One of the more unfortunate aspects of Luka Doncic’s hamstring strain is the fact that he will top out at 64 regular-season games this year, which will make him ineligible for end-of-season awards. The NBA, not too long ago, instituted a 65-game minimum for players to be eligible for such awards in an effort to curb load management.
There is, however, a clause in that rule that could allow Doncic to remain eligible for individual honors, and his agent, Bill Duffy, told ESPN that he will be applying for an “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge” since Doncic missed two games earlier this season to be present for the birth of his second child in Slovenia.
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During NBC’s broadcast of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 134-128 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, former NBA stars and Hall of Famers Tracy McGrady and Carmelo Anthony supported Doncic in his effort to get around the league’s 65-game threshold.
“It’s the birth of his child, it’s not an injury, it’s not load management,” McGrady said. “This is the birth of his child where you gotta fly to another country. I’m sure the league is gonna do right by that.”
“This is the international players,” Anthony added. … “If they need to get back to go take care of family matters and they miss a game they shouldn’t be penalized for that.”
The timing of the injury was very unfortunate overall, because it happened just after L.A. had won 16 of 18 games and was starting to look like a dark-horse contender. But now, with Austin Reaves also slated to miss multiple weeks with an oblique strain, the team will have to hobble into the playoffs, and its outlook has gone from relatively sunny to stormy.
It should also be noted that Doncic was suspended for the Lakers’ game this past Monday against the Washington Wizards because he received his 16th technical foul in their previous contest, which could count as another game he didn’t play in because of reasons other than injury or load management.
He was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for March, and thanks to his sensational play, the Lakers rose from sixth place to third place in the West. He’s currently leading the NBA with an average of 33.5 points a game.
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This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Two Hall of Famers say Luka Doncic should be eligible for NBA awards