When it comes to the league’s current NBA awards rules, The Athletic‘s Sam Amick admitted what many around the league are starting to realize.
“I think I was wrong about it,” Amick said on Sactown Sports’ The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross. “I liked it at first, and then… I don’t know how I feel about this artificial pressure that’s getting put on guys.”
That pressure stems from the NBA’s 65-game requirement for players to qualify for major awards—an attempt to curb load management that may now be creating unintended consequences.
Amick pointed to a moment that shifted his thinking entirely: Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid pushing to meet the threshold, only to suffer an injury that sidelined him for months.
“He pushed himself… and then he got hurt,” Amick said. “That’s when I started going, okay, I don’t know how I feel about this.”
Wemby vs. SGA and the great MVP debate, my read on Giannis vs. the Bucks and the 65-game rule discussion rages on, at @TheAthletic https://t.co/vvHJV5mytb
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) March 26, 2026
More on the NBA Award Rules & Tanking Solutions
What was designed to incentivize participation is now, in some cases, doing the opposite—either forcing players onto the floor when they shouldn’t be, or disqualifying elite talent altogether. And the downstream effect could reshape how the league’s history is remembered.
“We’re going to have an All-NBA team of second and third-tier players,” Amick said. “That does matter historically.”
The NBA awards rules issue doesn’t exist in a vacuum, either. It’s part of a broader league-wide challenge that also includes tanking, another topic front and center in recent discussions involving commissioner Adam Silver.
While potential fixes are being explored—from draft restructuring to more radical ideas like a “draft wheel”—Amick warned that some solutions may simply shift the problem rather than solve it.
“You’re just going to move up the tanking,” he said.
Complicating matters further is the question of who’s really driving load management. While players have often taken the blame, Amick emphasized that teams themselves are frequently the ones making those calls.
“It’s not just us,” he said, referencing players’ perspective. “A lot of times it’s the organization.”
He pointed to Giannis Antetokounmpo as a recent example, noting that despite the star’s desire to play, team priorities—whether health, asset protection, or long-term strategy—can override that intent.
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
“Giannis wants to play… and he’s still getting ruled out,” Amick said.
All of it leaves the NBA in a familiar place: searching for answers. The league has tweaked its system before, and it appears more changes could be coming. But as Amick made clear, not every adjustment hits the mark.
“This lever didn’t work,” he said. “You need to find a way to apply pressure.”
Check out the full interview with The Athletic’s Sam Amick by scrolling to the top of the page or by clicking here. The interview covers the NBA awards rules issue, potential solutions to tanking, and much more.
Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PDT, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
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When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The Sacramento Kings will continue their final road trip of the season on Saturday afternoon when they face the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.
Sacramento dropped a 133-100 blowout loss to the Hawks on November 12th, as Jalen Johnson poured in 24 points, grabbed 10 boards, and handed out 8 assists in the win.
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 3:00 PM PT on Game Night before a 4:30 pm PT tip-off from downtown Atlanta.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
- Saturday, March 28th – @ Atlanta Hawks – 4:30 PM PT
- Sunday, March 29th @ Brooklyn Nets – 3:00 PM PT
- Wednesday, April 1st @ Toronto Raptors – 5:00 PM PT
- Friday, April 3rd vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 7:00 PM PT
- Sunday, April 5th vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 6:00 PM PT
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