Luka Doncic, Other NBA Stars Ineligible For League Honors & Awards

We are coming up on the home stretch of the 2024-25 NBA season, and we are beginning to see a more clear picture of whom the top teams and players are this year. Some things to monitor over the final month and a half are the awards and honors that will be handed down to the best players around the league, like All-NBA teams and MVP honors.

Which NBA Players Are Ineligible For Postseason Awards?

But thanks to a recent rule implemented last season, some of the top players might not be eligible to receive the recognition that they deserve. Players must participate in 65 or more games in order to be considered for end-of-season honors, and there are notable names that are either already out of the running or on the fringe as we head into the final weeks.

Notable players ineligible for NBA awards due to the 65-game rule:

Luka Doncic
Victor Wembanyama
Ja Morant
Paul George
Kawhi Leonard

(h/t @ESPNNBA) pic.twitter.com/Im6Jl65Lk5

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 23, 2025

Luka Dončić

This will be the first season of his career in which Dončić fails to reach 60 games played. He has been a perennial MVP candidate in each of the last NBA five seasons, but won’t be getting any votes in 2025. Not only has he seen a slight dip in his numbers across the board, but he has only played in a total of 27 games so far this year, well behind the needed pace to be eligible for awards.

Even if he plays in each of the final 26 games for the Lakers, Dončić will finish 12 games short of the 65-game threshold.

Victor Wembanyama

The second-year budding superstar was on his way to earning Defensive Player of the Year honors, listed as an insurmountable favorite at sportsbooks across the country. But an unfortunate shoulder ailment ended Wembanyama’s second NBA season prematurely, as he was only able to get 46 games under his belt this year.

The Spurs are confident that he’ll be ready to go by the start of next season, but there is a sense of concern given the seriousness of a blood clot issue.

Paolo Banchero

His third NBA season has been arguably his best statistically, as Banchero is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, and blocks. There could be an argument made for him to be included on one of the All-NBA teams, but his missed time at the beginning of the year will keep him out of the running. He missed every game from November 1st until January 10th, 34 in all, and can only reach 48 games played if he doesn’t miss another down the stretch.