Anthony Edwards is sidelined for Thursday’s game. Consequently, he will be ineligible for any NBA awards following the conclusion of the season.
The standout guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves became the newest prominent figure in the NBA affected by the league’s contentious regulations concerning awards eligibility, after being declared unable to participate in the Timberwolves’ matchup versus the Detroit Pistons due to discomfort in his right knee and a sickness.
This marks his seventeenth absence this season. Generally, players must miss eighteen contests to forfeit their eligibility for awards; however, his limited three-minute appearance on October 26th is counted as an absence by the NBA. As a result, he is no longer qualified for consideration in All-NBA teams and MVP balloting.
In the previous two seasons, Edwards earned spots on the All-NBA second team and secured a seventh-place ranking in the NBA MVP polls. During the current season, he has been achieving an average of 29.3 points per game, marking his highest career scoring average, alongside a personal best field goal percentage of 49.3%.
His numerous missed appearances accumulated progressively. He sat out four games within the season’s initial month due to a hamstring problem, followed by an additional three games in December because of a foot ailment. The same foot then led to him missing three more games in January.
Edwards remained eligible as March began, but then he was sidelined for six consecutive matches due to inflammation in his knee. He made a comeback for just one game on Monday, however, persistent knee problems coupled with an unspecified sickness delivered the decisive setback.
The NBA implemented its qualification criteria to address the frustration caused by star players frequently opting for rest and recovery days, even as spectators pay to watch them perform. Nevertheless, these rules have increasingly drawn criticism as more prominent players become excluded from awards contention this season. The NBPA reached its limit last month, advocating for the elimination of the 65-game regulation following an injury suffered by MVP hopeful Cade Cunningham.
Other players who are now unqualified include LeBron James and Stephen Curry, while Nikola Jokić, Kawhi Leonard, and Devin Booker are all precariously near to also being disqualified.
