Luka Doncic’s Injury Highlights the Need to Reevaluate NBA’s 65-Game Rule

The Dallas Mavericks are bracing for life without their superstar point guard, Luka Doncic, who is expected to miss at least a month due to a left calf strain sustained during a 105-99 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas Day. This injury compounds an already challenging season for Doncic, who had previously missed eight games with a heel contusion and wrist sprain.

Doncic’s absence cannot be overstated. As a five-time First-Team All-NBA guard, his ability to orchestrate the offense and create opportunities for teammates defines the Mavericks’ identity. Fortunately, Dallas boasts its most well-rounded roster since Doncic joined the team, holding a 6-3 record without him so far. However, maintaining momentum in the highly competitive Western Conference will remain a significant challenge.

Doncic’s injury raises serious concerns regarding the NBA’s 65-game minimum rule for award eligibility. Under the new guidelines, Doncic—expected to miss at least 15 games—will fall short of the required threshold, rendering him ineligible for MVP and All-NBA team selections.

While Doncic’s MVP hopes were already dim due to a slow season start, his December resurgence hinted at a potential top-five finish in voting. Yet, the focus shifts to his All-NBA candidacy—a recognition he has earned consistently since his second year in the league.

Even in seasons where Doncic played just 61 games, his performance warranted First Team honors. However, with the 65-game rule now enforced, such achievements are no longer possible despite evident talent and impact.

The NBA introduced the 65-game rule to combat load management issues, where healthy players frequently sat out games for rest. Alongside fines for resting players during high-profile matchups, this policy incentivizes athletes to remain available and competitive.

While the rule addresses load management, it unintentionally punishes players like Doncic, who miss games due to legitimate injuries. The intent was to curb strategic rest days, not to penalize stars sidelined by health issues.

The rule also carries significant financial consequences. Take Tyrese Haliburton, who risked losing an additional $40 million after missing 13 games with a hamstring strain. Fortunately, he played 69 games and earned Third Team All-NBA honors, but he openly criticized the rule, calling it “stupid” for failing to account for injuries.

If left unchanged, the 65-game requirement could undermine the credibility of All-NBA teams as indicators of the league’s top talent. Stars like Doncic may be omitted, creating an inaccurate reflection of player performance.

A possible solution might involve:

• Tiered Eligibility: Require 65 games for First Team honors, but lower thresholds—such as 45-50 games—for Second and Third Teams.

• Injury Exceptions: Allow panels to consider injury-related absences when evaluating eligibility.

Now in Year 2 of enforcing the 65-game rule, the NBA must evaluate whether its one-size-fits-all approach truly serves its purpose. While the rule successfully discourages load management, cases like Doncic’s highlight the need for flexibility.

Moving forward, revising the policy could prevent scenarios where legitimate stars are excluded from honors due to injuries. Such adjustments would preserve the integrity of awards while continuing to promote player availability.

Luka Doncic’s injury underscores the flaws in the NBA’s current system, prompting the league to reconsider its approach to award eligibility rules. As the Mavericks fight to remain competitive without their star, the NBA must also fight to ensure its rules reflect fairness and recognize excellence, even in the face of unavoidable injuries.

With Doncic set to return later this season, fans and analysts alike will watch closely—not just to see his performance, but also how the NBA adapts to maintain fairness in honoring its top players.