65-Game Rule for Award Eligibility

The Rule Change

The NBA implemented a requirement that players must appear in at least 65 regular-season games to be eligible for end-of-season awards including MVP, All-NBA, and scoring titles. The rule was a direct response to growing load management, where star players routinely sat out games to rest.

Statistical Impact

Created a strong incentive for stars to play in more regular-season games. The rule addressed a core fan complaint — that paying customers were increasingly unlikely to see the best players on any given night. It also introduced new strategic considerations around when and how much to rest players during the 82-game season.

3-Year Average: Before vs. After