🏀 NBA Awards Eligibility Tracker 2026: Doncic, Cade Qualify After Challenges
⚡️ SBR Pulse: NBA Awards Eligibility Tracker
Our NBA awards eligibility tracker breaks down whether stars like Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham are in the running for honors such as MVP and All-NBA. We also review the closing betting odds for awards and explain the 65-game rule.
π£ Is Luka Doncic eligible for MVP?
Yes, Doncic is eligible for MVP, All-NBA, and all end-of-season awards after the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) ruled in his favor on Thursday in his Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge.
While it's unlikely he will win NBA MVP - as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the betting favorite even when Doncic was still healthy - he will likely make an All-NBA team after leading the league with 33.5 points per game.
π΅ Is Cade Cunningham eligible for MVP?
Yes, Cunningham is eligible for MVP and all end-of-season awards. The NBA and NBPA ruled in his favor on his Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge after he fell two games short of eligibility due to a collapsed lung late in the season.
While Cunningham was never a favorite to win MVP, he will likely make an All-NBA team after leading the Detroit Pistons to the best record in the Eastern Conference.
π NBA MVP eligibility tracker
Our MVP leaderboard features live NBA odds from the best sports betting sites.
| Player | Games played | Closing odds |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama β | 65* | +6000 via BetRivers |
*Player logged 20+ minutes in the NBA Cup final, which counts toward eligibility.
Victor Wembanyama is eligible for end-of-season awards after reaching the 65-game threshold on Friday. He closed with the third-shortest odds to win MVP, while Gilgeous-Alexander was the betting favorite.
📝 How the 65-game rule works
To qualify for honors such as MVP or All-NBA, players must appear in at least 65 regular-season games and log a minimum of 20 minutes in each. The rule allows for only two βnear-missβ games in which a player logs between 15 and 20 minutes, limiting a player to no more than 17 absences over the course of the season.
π All-NBA team eligibility tracker
Follow all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.
| Player | Games played |
|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic β | 65 |
| Victor Wembanyama β | 65* |
| Kawhi Leonard β | 65 |
| Evan Mobley β | 65 |
| Deni Avdija β | 65** |
| Luka Doncic β | 64*** |
| Cade Cunningham β | 63*** |
*Player logged 20+ minutes in the NBA Cup final, which counts toward eligibility.
**Player did not log enough minutes in one or more games to count toward eligibility.
***Player gained eligibility through an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge.
Nikola Jokic reached the 65-game threshold on Sunday to be eligible for All-NBA.
While betting on All-NBA team selections is not widely available on the best NBA betting sites, these honors carry significant financial incentives for players.
π‘οΈ NBA Defensive Player of the Year eligibility tracker
More odds are available on our NBA Defensive Player of the Year leaderboard.
| Player | Games played | Closing odds |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama β | 65* | -8000 via DraftKings |
*Player logged 20+ minutes in the NBA Cup final, which counts toward eligibility.
Wembanyama closed as a heavy favorite to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
π NBA Most Improved Player eligibility tracker
More odds are available on our NBA Most Improved Player of the Year leaderboard.
| Player | Games played | Closing odds |
|---|---|---|
| Deni Avdija β | 65** | +8000 via Caesars |
**Player did not log enough minutes in one or more games to count toward eligibility.
Deni Avdija closed with the third-shortest odds to win the NBA Most Improved Player award. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was the favorite.
β Which NBA players are ineligible for awards?
Preseason odds via BetMGM.
| Player | Affected market | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|
| Devin Booker | MVP | +18000 |
| Anthony Edwards | MVP | +2200 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | MVP | +700 |
| Stephen Curry | MVP | +4000 |
| Lauri Markkanen | Most Improved Player | +10000 |
| Joel Embiid | MVP | +4000 |
| Austin Reaves | Most Improved Player | +2500 |
| Tyler Herro | MVP | +50000 |
| LeBron James | MVP | +10000 |
| Franz Wagner | MVP | +30000 |
| Anthony Davis | Defensive Player of the Year | +3000 |
| Ty Jerome | Most Improved Player | +10000 |
The biggest impact on this list is that Giannis Antetokounmpo is not eligible to win NBA MVP. He had the third-shortest preseason odds to win MVP (tied with Doncic) and, as of April 13, still accounted for 1.4% of tickets and 1.2% of the handle at BetMGM.
β Is Rookie of the Year subject to the 65-game rule?
No. The Rookie of the Year award and the All-Rookie Teams are exempt from the NBAβs 65-game rule. While major honors such as MVP and All-NBA are subject to the rule, voters are free to evaluate the rookie class without a minimum game requirement.
The 65-game rule also does not apply to Sixth Man of the Year.
💸 NBA betting tips
Before you go, see all of our experts' NBA picks for today's games.
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