Luka Doncic Receives Good News From NBA Days Before the Playoffs
The NBA postseason is set to tip off this weekend, and while Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic will be sidelined with the hamstring injury he sustained at the beginning of the month, he did receive positive news from the league on Thursday.
Doncic, who appeared in 64 games this season, had initially fallen just short of the NBA's 65-game threshold, which would have made him ineligible for all regular-season awards - a significant setback for several reasons.
Not only is Doncic a strong candidate for All-NBA honors after leading the league in scoring, but those awards can also impact player salaries, including eligibility for supermax extensions - a difference worth several million dollars and something he could be in line for in 2028.
However, Doncic missed two games this season for the birth of his second child, when he traveled back to Slovenia. After filing an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge to appeal the ruling, the NBA sided with the star guard, restoring those two missed games.
More news: Sorry, Orlando Magic - Paolo Banchero Is Not a Superstar
More news: NBA Announces Double Punishment for LaMelo Ball After Bam Adebayo Injury
Now, Doncic will be eligible to receive any awards, as will Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, who was also granted eligibility after falling short of the 65-game requirement. Cunningham missed 12 games due to a collapsed lung suffered on March 17.
"The NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have agreed, in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), that Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic are eligible for all annual awards for the 2025–26 NBA regular season."
This season, Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game while serving as the catalyst behind the Lakers securing the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Los Angeles had climbed as high as the No. 3 seed before he went down with the injury.
The Lakers will now take on the Houston Rockets beginning Saturday without Doncic and starting guard Austin Reaves, who was injured in the same game on April 2. Both players are expected to miss the first round.
More news:Lonzo Ball Takes Public Shot at Fox's Nick Wright Over Brother LaMelo
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 9:25 AM.