NBA awards eligibility tracker: Joel Embiid’s MVP chances take major hit after torn meniscus

The NBA introduced a new player participation policy ahead of the 2023-24 season aimed at reducing load management and “reinforcing that we’re an 82-game league,” commissioner Adam Silver said. “If you’re a healthy player in this league, the expectation is that you’re going to play.”

Perhaps the most notable aspect of the new rules is that in order for players to be eligible for major awards, they have to appear in at least 65 games. For a game to count, a player must have registered at least 20 minutes. Said honors include:

MVPDefensive Player of the YearMost Improved PlayerAll-NBA teamAll-Defensive teamAs the season approaches the mid-way point, here’s a look at which stars are either in the danger zone or already eliminated from contention for missing too many games. 

Kyrie Irving, Mavericks: IneligibleIrving has played well for the Mavericks, though with the elite young guards in the league nowadays he was always facing an uphill battle to make the All-NBA cut. In any case, he’s now ineligible. A fluke foot injury kept him out for nearly all of December and after a recent thumb problem, he’s now missed too many games. 

Bradley Beal, Suns: IneligibleBeal’s first season in the desert has been stop-and-start due to various injuries. A back problem that began in training camp prevented him from making his debut until November, then almost immediately forced him back to the sideline for another three weeks. Upon his return from that issue, he sprained his ankle and was ruled out a further two weeks. All told, he’s already far surpassed the maximum number of games he could miss. 

LaMelo Ball, Hornets: IneligibleThe youngest Ball brother was off to an incredible start this season before suffering yet another ankle injury in late November. He has since returned, but not before missing 20 games over nearly two months. As a result, he has missed too many games to be considered for any postseason honors. 

Ja Morant, Grizzlies: IneligibleMorant recently suffered a season-ending shoulder surgery, but he was ineligible for any awards before play even began. That, of course, was because the league suspended him for the first 25 games of the season due to multiple instances of brandishing a firearm on social media. Injuries and off-court matters kept him off ballots last season as well, so this will be two consecutive seasons without any honors for the 2022 Most Improved Player and All-NBA Second Teamer. 

Jimmy Butler, Heat: Missed 15/17 gamesFor someone who claims that he doesn’t start “playing for real” until after the All-Star break, Butler has made an All-NBA team five times, including three of the last four seasons. His odds of making the cut this time around are starting to look slim, though as he’s already missed 15 games. To that point, it’s worth noting that Butler has only played 65 games four times in his career.  

Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics: Missed 14/17 gamesThe Celtics are once again an elite defensive team, thanks in large part to the Latvian big man, who arrived in a blockbuster trade during the summer. It seems unlikely that he will have a chance to get into the All-Defensive conversations, however, as he’s already missed 14 games and has a lengthy injury history. The team has been preventing him from playing in both halves of back-to-backs lately, and figure to be cautious with his health down the stretch. 

Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers: Missed 13/17 gamesThe NBA’s assist leader this season has missed 13 games due to a hamstring strain he suffered on Jan. 8 against the Celtics. Ahead of his return to the lineup, also against the Celtics, he called the league’s 65-game rule “stupid.” The requirement could have major financial implications for Haliburton, as the value of the max extension he signed last summer will hinge on whether he makes an All-NBA team. 

Joel Embiid, Sixers: Missed 13/17 gamesInjuries are always a concern for the reigning MVP, who has never played in more than 68 games in a season. After a dominant start to the 2023-24 campaign, Embiid is once again an MVP favorite, but a series of lower-body issues in recent weeks have raised concerns about his ability to get to 65 games. He’ll miss his 13th game on Thursday night and was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee and will be out indefinitely. While no official timeline has been announced, this injury almost certainly ends Embiid’s chances reaching 65 games. 

Bam Adebayo, Heat: Missed 10/17 gamesThe Heat have been severely banged up this season, with star center Bam Adebayo near the top of the list in missed games. A hip injury kept him out for over two weeks at the start of December, and all told, he’s already missed 10 games. While his impact on the defensive end is undeniable, his hopes of making a fifth consecutive All-Defensive team will rest on his ability to stay on the court in the second half of the season. 

Devin Booker, Suns: Missed 9/17 gamesBooker got off to a slow start this season, missing eight of the Suns’ first 10 games due to an array of leg injuries; he hurt his foot, ankle and calf in the span of a few weeks. Since then, he’s been back at an elite level — he’s averaging a career-high in assists — and has missed just one game. However, because of all the absences early, he can only miss eight more games if he wants to stay in the All-NBA conversation. 

Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers: Missed 9/17 gamesMitchell made his first All-NBA appearance last season, earning a Second Team spot for helping the Cavaliers make the playoffs for the first time this century without LeBron James. He’ll need to stay healthy in the second half of the season if he wants to stay in that conversation, though. A hamstring injury and an illness that left him in bed for four days have kept him out of nine games already. 

Kevin Durant, Suns: Missed 7/17 games
The veteran forward has been the healthiest member of the Suns’ “Big Three,” and that’s saying something. He’s in the middle of another spectacular scoring campaign, but a few minor injuries here and there have kept him out of seven games so far. Given his health concerns in recent seasons — he hasn’t played 65 games since 2019, prior to his Achilles tendon tear — you have to wonder if he can hold up in the second half. 

CBS Sports will continue to update this story throughout the remainder of the season