Updated NBA Awards Watch for Players Eligible and Ineligible Ahead of 2026 NBA Playoffs

As the 2025-26 NBA regular season reached its end on Sunday, the list of players who reached the 65-game threshold to be eligible for year-end awards is now complete.

The Athletic's Mike Prada provided an updated list of players who will be in the running for accolades this season.

Some of the players who passed the 65-game threshold include Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić eclipsed the 65-game mark in Sunday's regular-season finale. San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard reached the threshold this past week as well.

The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg and the Charlotte Hornets' Kon Knueppel are among the rookies to reach the mark.

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic suffered a hamstring injury in his 64th game, but Prada explained that he can try to maintain his eligibility through "a little-known clause known as the 'Extraordinary Circumstance Challenge,' which allows players to petition for eligibility if 'it was impracticable for him to play in one or more of the Regular Season game(s) that he missed during such Season.'"

He missed two games in December to return to Slovenia for the birth of his second daughter, so the Lakers are likely to apply for the exemption at the end of the year.

Unfortunately, players who are already ineligible for year-end awards include stars like Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.