Award Eligibility Reinstated for NBA Stars Not Named Anthony Edwards
The Minnesota Timberwolves will begin their 2026 first round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday afternoon.
And while the rest of the basketball world is down bad on Minnesota in the series, head coach Chris Finch and his Wolves are reportedly bringing a different type of edge to the arena and locker room on a daily basis this week, and believe they are primed for another first round upset.
Of course, saying you can flip that playoff switch is much easier than actually flipping it. However, the Timberwolves have proven in recent seasons that they have the ability to pull it off.
But while the NBA waits out the play-in tournament, league officials are tying up odds and ends on the regular season, which now includes individual award eligibility appeals, due to the 65-game minimum was made a prerequisite a few years ago.
Anthony Edwards loses appeal for regular season award eligibility
Among the stars appealing their eligibility, because they failed to reach 65 games played, is MN Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards, who played 61 games (really only 60) this season, mostly due to a nagging knee injury.
On Thursday, news broke that — while Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham’s award eligibility is being reinstated — Anthony Edwards’ is not. His appeal went to an independent arbitrator, who denied it.
Doncic missed 2 games in December due to the birth of his child abroad and Cunningham had a collapsed lung. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards filed a challenge as well and his case was advanced to an independent arbitrator, but was denied and is not eligible for awards, sources said. https://t.co/BfkiQH2f2e
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 16, 2026
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To challenge the 65 game eligibility rule in the NBA, your absence must be deemed to have been under “extraordinary circumstances” — like Luka’s international childbirth and Cade’s collapsed lung — a standard that Edwards’ missed time did not justify, per his independent arbitrator.
What does denial mean for Minnesota Timberwolves superstar?
That means, while Anthony Edwards was able to capture his fourth-consecutive All-Star appearance in 2025-26, he will not be named to his third-consecutive All-NBA team, despite career highs in points (28.8), field goal % (49%), 3PT % (40%), and offensive rating (117).
Over the course of the season, Ant missed 20-ish games because of a right knee injury that caused him recurring pain and inflammation. He also missed at least one game due to illness, on April 2 against the Pistons.
Without a doubt, Anthony Edwards would have made an All-NBA Team, so missing that is frustrating. However, he will have no issue hitting the rest of his maximum contract contingencies, as long as he can stay more healthy going forward.
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