Lakers ahead LeBron James, Spurs large man Victor Wembanyama, and Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey all reached the 65-game benchmark on Friday, making them eligible to win end-of-season awards, in response to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
James has technically appeared in simply 64 common season video games, however the in-season match closing in December counts towards the 65-game requirement regardless of not counting towards the Lakers’ common season report. That can even be the case for gamers like Anthony Davis — who surpassed the 65-game threshold earlier this month — and Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who’s three video games away.
James is not a perennial MVP candidate like he was earlier in his profession, however he has a reliable case for an All-NBA spot. He has averaged 25.2 factors, 8.1 assists, and seven.3 rebounds in 35.2 minutes per recreation throughout his 64 begins, with a capturing line (.530/.401/.751) nicely above his profession norm. If LeBron earns a type of 15 berths this season, he’ll lengthen his report for profession All-NBA nods to twenty, 5 greater than another participant in league historical past.
Reaching the 65-game threshold is maybe much less essential for Wembanyama since qualifying for Rookie of the Yr or an All-Rookie workforce is just not required. Nevertheless, it’s essential to earn votes for Defensive Participant of the Yr, and whereas Rudy Gobert is the frontrunner for that award, Wembanyama has a shot at it. The rookie phenom has averaged a double-double (21.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG) and led the NBA in blocks per recreation (3.4) at age 20.
Wembanyama fell simply wanting the 20-minute minimal in one in all his 65 appearances this season, however he logged over 19 minutes in that contest. A participant can depend as much as two sub-20-minute video games towards his 65-game whole if he performed not less than quarter-hour in these video games.
As for Maxey, he’s a number one contender for this season’s Most Improved Participant award, having elevated his averages to 25.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, and three.7 RPG in his fourth NBA season. His capturing percentages (.445 FG%, .374 3PT%) are down from final yr, however he has been tasked with extra offensive tasks in Philadelphia following James Harden‘s departure and Joel Embiid‘s knee damage.
Maxey additionally has a case for All-NBA honors, which might affect his restricted free company this summer season. As Marks notes on X, claiming an All-NBA spot would make the Sixers guard eligible for a Rose Rule contract beginning at as much as 30% of the cap (as an alternative of 25%). Such a deal could be price as much as a projected $245.3M over 5 years as an alternative of $204.5M.
