In the wake of Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham's recent lung injury, he is now in danger of not qualifying for the NBA's 65-game rule to be eligible for postseason award honors. As a result, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the National Basketball Players Association, or NBPA, came out with a prepared statement in support of Cade Cunningham and called on the NBA to get rid of the 65-game rule for postseason honors.
The NBPA wrote, "Cade Cunningham's potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and is another example of why it should be eliminated or reformed to make exceptions for significant injuries." "Since its implementation, too many eligible players have been unfairly disqualified from end-of-season honors by the arbitrary and overly stringent quota."
Cade Cunningham has been a potential MVP candidate, and is almost certain to make the All-NBA team. But he's only played 61 games so far, and with the Pistons only having 11 games remaining in the regular season, it appears to be an uphill battle in terms of qualifying for the NBA's 65-game rule.
Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung during the Pistons' win against the Washington Wizards on March 19. He was expected to be reevaluated in two weeks due to the injury, leaving him with six games remaining and about a week and a half before the end of the season.
The Pistons have been the top team in the Eastern Conference this season due to Cunningham's MVP level play. He has appeared in 61 games at a rate of just over 34 minutes per game. He averaged 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 1.5 steals, including 46.1 percent shooting from the field, 34.6 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 81.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
