Doncic, Cunningham eligible for regular season awards; Edwards denied

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, the league announced on Thursday.

Cunningham played in 63 qualified games due in part to missing 12 games as a result of a collapsed lung that was diagnosed on March 17. 

Doncic played in 64 qualified games, despite missing two due to the birth of his daughter in Slovenia. 

The NBA and NBPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Doncic, each player qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision in the CBA.

This season, Cunningham averaged 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 9.9 assists, leading the Pistons to the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per contest.

While Doncic and Cunningham got good news regarding their eligibility for the annual awards, Anthony Edwards did not.

Edwards, who played in 60 qualified games, filed an extraordinary circumstances challenge under the CBA, seeking award eligibility before an independent arbitrator.  Edwards’ challenge was denied and, as a result, he is not eligible for annual awards for the 2025-26 NBA regular season.

This season, Edwards averaged 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.