Luka Dončić, Cade Cunningham eligible for awards after appeals: What that means for the MVP race, All-NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham won their challenge under extraordinary circumstances under the NBA’s 65-game rule and will both be eligible for major playoff honors, including MVP and All-NBA, the league announced Thursday.

“The NBA and NBPA agreed that, given the totality of the circumstances regarding Cunningham and Dončić, each player was qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provisions of the CBA,” the league and players’ union said in a joint statement.

Additionally, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards appealed, but his challenge was rejected by an independent arbitrator and he will not be eligible for awards. Edwards appeared in 61 games, but only 60 counted toward the threshold.

Dončić, who missed the final five games of the season with a hamstring injury, played in 64 games, but missed two games in December when he traveled to his native Slovenia for the birth of his daughter. Cunningham also appeared in 64 games, although only 63 of those counted toward the threshold since he left the March 17 game against the Pistons after five minutes because he was suffering from a collapsed lung. The injury forced Cunningham to miss 11 consecutive games.

Neither Dončić nor Cunningham are expected to win the MVP award, but both will likely finish in the top five, which is what matters historically. Additionally, both have strong cases to make the All-NBA First Team. Dončić is seeking the honor for the sixth time in eight seasons, while Cunningham has never earned a spot. At the very least, both are now guaranteed a spot on one of the All-NBA teams, which, again, is important for the players’ legacies and an accurate record of the season.

While the move is good news for Dončić, his status for the playoffs remains in question. He recently traveled to Spain for hamstring treatment in hopes of speeding his recovery, but Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters Tuesday that Dončić and Austin Reaves (oblique) remain “out indefinitely.”

The Lakers begin their first-round series against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, but there are significant interruptions between Games 2 (April 21) and 3 (April 24) and Games 4 (April 26) and 5 (April 29). If LeBron James and the Lakers manage to extend the series, there is a chance Dončić and Reaves return at some point.

Lakers’ Luka Dončić is reportedly close to returning from Spain before the playoffs open after suffering an injury.

James Herbert

As for the Pistons, they retained the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and won 60 games for the first time since 2006 despite Cunningham’s extended absence late in the campaign. Cunningham returned on April 8 and played the final three games of the season and will be ready to play in the first game of the playoffs on Sunday.

The Pistons are still waiting for their opponent and will face the winner of Thursday’s Play-In Tournament final between the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets.