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NBA NBA Season Latest Both Cade Cunningham and Luka Dončić will be eligible for end-of-season honors including All-NBA recognition. Chris Schwegler / NBAE via Getty Images Luka Dončić, who missed two games in December to travel to Slovenia for the birth of his daughter, and Cade Cunningham, who suffered a collapsed lung that limited him to 64 games, have won their appeals and will be eligible for end-of-season NBA awards, the league announced Thursday. Both players are expected to make All-NBA teams, while Dončić is an outside candidate for MVP. Advertisement The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association didn’t contest the filings, a league source told The Athletic. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, who played 61 games and missed 11 of the Timberwolves’ final 14 contests, filed an appeal as well, but an independent arbitrator ruled against him. Dončić suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in his 64th game of the NBA regular season, one fewer than the 65 required to be considered for end-of-season awards like MVP and All-NBA. He was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the season and is considered out “indefinitely” as the Lakers are set to begin the playoffs Saturday against the Houston Rockets. “I am grateful to the NBPA for advocating on my behalf and to the NBA for their fair decision, ” Dončić posted on X. “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 season has been so special to me because of what my teammates and I have been able to accomplish, and I am honored to have the opportunity to be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards. ” While the NBA and NBPA jointly agreed to the 65-game rule during the last round of collective bargaining, the players’ union has continued to campaign for it to be revisited. The rule could be amended now, if both parties agreed, or renegotiated in the next round of collective bargaining agreement talks. Per a league source, the rule was a league-initiated idea that was eventually supported by the NBPA. That support is no more. In the eyes of the union, the rule should be more focused on players who are guilty of blatant load management as opposed to those dealing with legitimate injuries. Top union officials discussed the matter at length recently on a podcast, with former players Andre Iguodala (executive director of the NBPA) and Shaun Livingston (NBPA player engagement director), alongside David Kelly (who was recently elected as the next executive director), in the extended discussion. Advertisement The morning after Dončić was injured, sources close to the NBA’s leading scorer told The Athletic that his team was aware of a clause in the 65-game rule for an “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge. ” Later in the day, Dončić’s agent, Bill Duffy of WME Basketball, issued a statement obtained by The Athletic saying Dončić missed just two games — a back-to-back — to fly to Slovenia before rejoining the Lakers. “Luka has gone to great lengths to show up for his team and this league this season, ” Duffy’s statement read, in part. “His record-breaking season deserves to be noted in the history books, despite last night’s unfortunate injury and other extraordinary circumstances. We look forward to working with the NBAPA and the league office to ensure a fair outcome in this matter. ” Dončić and Cunningham had to file their protest no later than Monday, the day after the regular season ended. A “challenge expert” — chosen by the NBA and NBPA — would evaluate their appeals and determine if “the sole remedy shall be that the player is deemed eligible for the Applicable Generally Recognized League Honors. ” Dončić did miss one game this season because of a mandatory suspension following his 16th technical foul. In his first full season with the Lakers, Dončić averaged 33. 5 points, 7. 7 rebounds and 8. 3 assists. He led the league in shots made and taken per game. He converted 36. 6 percent of 10. 8 3-point attempts per game, and his 694 3-point shots are 149 more than any other Laker in franchise history has attempted in a season. A league source told The Athletic that Cunningham’s injury was considered a condition, as opposed to a basketball injury, and that was part of the analysis of his situation. Cunningham missed 11 straight games before returning April 9. He averaged 23. 9 points and 9. 9 assists per game en route to leading the Pistons to 60 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle