NBA Analyst Says This Rule Could Give MVP to the Wrong Player

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As the 2025-26 NBA season heads toward the finish line, the MVP race should be about impact and production. Instead, it may come down to participation. The league’s 65-game minimum for award eligibility (introduced to curb load management) is now threatening to overshadow what’s actually happening on the court. At least, that’s what one NBA insider is saying.

In a recent column, The Athletic’s Eric Koreen argues the rule could end up handing MVP to the wrong player. Right now, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic have been the two most impactful players in basketball by virtually every advanced metric, including win shares. But Gilgeous-Alexander has already missed 10 games and Jokic 16. If they miss eight and two more games, respectively, they’d be ineligible for MVP and All-NBA honors, regardless of performance.

That opens the door for players like Cade Cunningham, Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic, all excellent, but statistically a tier below this season.

Essentially, Koreen’s point is simple: if the two best players don’t qualify because of injuries, the award risks becoming a technicality rather than a reflection of reality.

Why Does The NBA’s 65-game Rule Exist

GettyNBA basketball court.

In a nutshell, the 65-game rule was meant to incentivize stars to play more often. Instead, it’s mostly punishing players dealing with legitimate injuries. Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo have already fallen below the threshold. Gilgeous-Alexander is managing an abdominal strain. Jokic has dealt with knee issues.

There’s also a bigger risk to the rule. If a player is sitting at 63 or 64 games late in the year, does he push to return early? Does a team feel pressure to play a franchise cornerstone in a meaningless March game just to keep awards in play?

So, what is the solution then?

Koreen suggests the solution isn’t threatening players with disqualification but making the regular season matter more for teams through stronger playoff incentives or lottery tweaks that reward competitiveness. If healthy stars have something meaningful to play for, they’ll play.

Who Is Leading the NBA MVP Race Right Now

GettyShai Gilgeous-Alexander currently is the betting favorite to win NBA MVP this season.

According to the latest odds, Gilgeous-Alexander remains the clear favorite at -145. The Oklahoma City Thunder star is averaging 31.8 points per game while anchoring the top seed in the Western Conference. He’s also coming off a season where he led his to the NBA championship. Makes sense, right?

This award is largely a two-man race.

Right behind Gilgeous-Alexander is Nikola Jokic at +300. The Denver Nuggets center is no stranger to dominating box scores, and this season is no exception. He leads the league in assists (10.5 per game) in addition to rebounds at 12.5 per game. Leading the league in two major offensive categories is nothing to scoff at.

In a distant third place is Cunningham (+600), who has surged into third after averaging 9.8 assists. He’s the star of the top seed in the Eastern Conference standings. Doncic (+4000) continues leads the league in scoring at 32.5 points per game for the Los Angeles Lakers but is a longshot to bring home the league’s top individual honor.

Alex Shoemaker Alex Shoemaker is a seasoned sports journalist and digital content strategist with more than a decade of experience in newsrooms and digital media. He has covered a wide range of sports, including March Madness, the Olympic Trials, and local high school athletics. He began his journalism career covering high school and community sports, developing a reputation for sharp storytelling and precise design that earned awards for both writing and pagination. More about Alex Shoemaker