The shocking news that Detroit Pistons franchise player Cade Cunningham is out indefinitely shakes up the MVP award race. Cunningham could miss the rest of the regular season while recovering from a collapsed lung, which puts him a few games shy of the minimum 65-game threshold to qualify for the NBA’s top individual honors.
The controversial 65-game rule is under scrutiny again as several prominent voices have spoken out about Cunningham potentially being unfairly punished. Add Golden State Warriors forward and NBA champion Draymond Green to the voices calling for changes.
Draymond Green Criticizes the NBA’s Controversial 65-Game Rule
Green became the latest notable critic of the 65-game rule on his podcast. He said:
“This situation right here with Cade, it just takes me back to, the topic of the 65-game rule. I don’t think there’s a soul on the voting committee that will look at Cade’s 61 games played and say I don’t think he qualifies for the first-team All-NBA.”
“If Cade Cunningham doesn’t play another game, and the 65-game rule is not into effect, Cade Cunningham is first-team All-NBA. And now, he may not make an All-NBA team because of this dumba** rule that, it just doesn’t fix the issue. And so, here’s a guy who’s done everything right, has a collapsed lung, and he’s going to miss All-NBA because of this dumba** rule that does not fix the issue. Kill the 65-game rule! It does not work for what it’s intended to do.”
Draymond Green says Cade Cunningham is not going to make All-NBA team because of this dumba** 65-game rule:
“It just doesn’t fix the issue. Like it does not fix the issue at all. And so here’s a guy who’s done everything right, has a collapsed lung, and he’s going to miss… https://t.co/scDpUNm2hS pic.twitter.com/iBis1hsa3u
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 20, 2026
The NBA’s 65-game rule was designed to motivate star players to prioritize playing in regular-season games. Many fans and media members became frustrated as players sat out regular-season games even though they were healthy enough to play.
Green is one of several players to express frustration with the rule while arguing that it hasn’t worked out as the NBA has hoped. Cunningham has had a stellar season, averaging 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game, yet he now stands at risk of missing out on achievements that he has earned.
Talk of abolishing the 65-game rule centered on Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant last season, who finished three games short of the threshold after missing time with a left calf sprain and ankle sprain. There are several notable players on the bubble this season that could drastically shake up the awards races.
MORE: Draymond Green Argues Lakers’ Defense Could Put Title Run in Jeopardy
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić missed extended time while recovering from a hyperextended left knee and will be ineligible if he misses two more games.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was on track to earn recognition last season before having to sit out the rest of the season with a blood clot in his right shoulder. He’s at risk again of being ineligible for any end-of-regular-season awards, but the Spurs are carefully managing his minutes.
Some fans believe it’s inevitable that a hurt star will try to play through a significant injury to avoid being ineligible for end-of-regular-season awards. If that happens, the outspoken Green will point out how it all could have been prevented.
