Luka Doncic Cleared for NBA Postseason Awards After Successful Appeal of 65-Game Rule Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic will be eligible for MVP and other postseason awards after the NBA and NBPA approved his appeal of the 65-game minimum rule, citing extraordinary circumstances for his absence in two games to attend his daughter's birth. NBA star Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers has successfully appealed the league's 65-game eligibility rule for postseason awards, clearing him to be considered for prestigious honors like the Most Valuable Player award. The joint announcement by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association on Thursday confirmed the favorable ruling for Doncic, who was a strong contender for MVP and was on track for his sixth All-NBA team selection. His regular season was cut short due to a left hamstring injury sustained on April 2, just shy of the required 64 games played. The current collective bargaining agreement mandates a minimum of 65 games for players to qualify for postseason accolades. However, the league and players' union have implemented an extraordinary circumstances provision that allows for exceptions. Doncic's appeal, alongside that of Detroit Pistons player Cade Cunningham, was granted under this provision. Doncic had missed two games in December to be present for the birth of his daughter in Slovenia. Cunningham's appeal was related to a collapsed lung suffered on March 17, which caused him to miss 12 games during a season where he put up career-best numbers and led the Pistons. In a statement shared on social media, Doncic expressed his gratitude: "I am grateful to the NBPA for advocating on my behalf and to the NBA for their fair decision. It was so important to me to be present for the birth of my daughter in December and I appreciate Mark, Jeanie, Rob, JJ, and the entire Lakers organization for fully supporting me and allowing me to travel to be there." This decision is significant for Doncic, who has had a phenomenal season, securing his second league scoring title with an impressive average of 33.5 points per game. His March performance was particularly spectacular, as he became the second player in NBA history to score 600 points in the month, following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan. He recorded four consecutive games with over 40 points and twelve games with over 30 points before his season-ending injury. The Lakers are now preparing for their playoff run, set to begin on Saturday against the Houston Rockets, with both Doncic and teammate Austin Reaves (out with an oblique injury) sidelined indefinitely