In an effort to discourage load management, the NBA may begin requiring players to appear in a minimum number of regular-season games to become eligible for major awards, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Sources tell Charania that the proposal is being considered as the league and its union try to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement before the March 31 deadline for either side to opt out of the existing deal. That deadline has been extended twice already, but both sides are reportedly committed to reaching a new CBA by the end of the month.
Charania states that the minimum-game requirement was discussed during a Competition Committee meeting Friday, as both the league and the players search for incentives to prevent stars from sitting out so often.
Sources with knowledge of both sides of negotiations tell Charania that the figure for the minimum number of games still has to be worked out, but the owners and the union are in agreement on the concept. He notes that the NBA already has a precedent by requiring players to appear in at least 58 games to qualify for the scoring title.
Friday’s meeting, which was led by commissioner Adam Silver and NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio, was described as “productive” by Charania’s sources. He states that the union suggested having talks about increased player availability, and the league was happy to address the issue.
Charania adds that speakers at Friday’s meeting included NPBA president CJ McCollum and former union leader Chris Paul, who both said load management is often dictated by teams that want to keep players fresh and manage their schedules. Coaches and executives who took part in the meeting didn’t dispute that point, according to Charania, but both sides agreed that injuries to high-profile players, especially over the last three seasons, have contributed to the load management philosophy.
Should be a player has to appear in 70 out of 82 games (prorated for shortened seasons ofcourse), which would make it so a player has to play in around 85% of the games. This would hurt players like Joel Embiid and Luka Doncic who are injury prone but put up huge stats but I think if you are missing more than 85% of your teams games that you don’t deserve to be an MVP
Gotta find some way to justify not giving it to Embiid again I guess.
Not sure what the argument against this is. What player is going to brag about winning MVP for playing half the season? Have to imagine they are more competitive than that.
Not to mention it’s a team sport. There should be no incentive to chase individual awards. They should be a byproduct of team play, not the other way around.
The argument against it is that’s better to have Joel Embiid for 69 games than Draymond Green for 86 games.
Names chosen as examples. Nothing against either guy.
What counts as an appearance?
Say the player checks in for a min and then back out….
This is where it can get really interesting. I rather doubt a (star) player is going to agree to go through all or even some of his pregame ritual, start and commit a foul 30 seconds in (ahem Giannis in all star game) or agree to come off the bench 7-8 minutes in, intentionally cause a play stoppage and check back out…
But..someone has to be smart enough to get a minimum minutes clause in place as well just to be safe.
Otherwise, LeBron might play til his grandkids are in the league, and have the awards all changed to scoring average per minutes played and so on.
Point per game gets lowered if the player tries this. Those zeros add up
Stat based awards should definitely have a minimum games requirement. However, MVP, coach of the year, etc are based solely on opinion so I’m not sure how that works out.
I see cries of “illegal”, “racism”, “favoritism” and every other allegation with this one.
Sorry about your wife milt.
@milypappas According to NBA “analysts”/double-single king Kendrick Perkins, these MVP awards are rigged because a white guy won it the past 2 years and might win it this year
All NBA team should also be based on games. MVP voters did not give It to Embiid because he did miss many games. Jokic does play more games so that is more valuable which is what the award is all about right.
Silver will consider anything to get players to play in more regular season games. Other than, of course, making the regular season more meaningful.
Minimum gms should have always been there. I thought it was, makes sense.