The CBA Glossary

Eligibility

The broad rule is that no player is eligible for Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, an All-NBA Team selection or an All-Defensive Team selection - collectively known in the CBA as the "Generally Recognized League Honors" - unless they did either of the following: ⓘArticle I (Definitions) Section 1 (Definitions):

(ccc) “Generally Recognized League Honors” means the following NBA league honors awarded to players: NBA Most Valuable Player; NBA Finals Most Valuable Player; NBA Defensive Player of the Year; NBA Sixth Man Award; NBA Most Improved Player; All-NBA Team (First, Second, or Third); NBA All-Defensive Team (First or Second); and All-Star Team Selection.

● Played in at least 65 regular season games that season, or; ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(a) Award Eligibility. No player shall be eligible for NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Defensive Player of the Year, NBA Most Improved Player, All-NBA Team (First, Second, or Third), or NBA All-Defensive Team (First or Second) honors (the “Applicable Generally Recognized League Honors”) for a Season unless the player has satisfied at least one of the following criteria (the “Award Eligibility Criteria”) in respect of such Season: (1) the player played in at least sixty-five (65) Regular Season games; or (2) the player (A) played in at least sixty-two (62) Regular Season games, (B) suffered a “season-ending injury” (as defined below), and (C) played in at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the Regular Season games played by his Team prior to the player suffering such injury.

● Played at least 62 regular season games, suffers a season-ending injury, and had appeared in at least 85% of their team's games before that injury occurred. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(a) Award Eligibility. No player shall be eligible for NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Defensive Player of the Year, NBA Most Improved Player, All-NBA Team (First, Second, or Third), or NBA All-Defensive Team (First or Second) honors (the “Applicable Generally Recognized League Honors”) for a Season unless the player has satisfied at least one of the following criteria (the “Award Eligibility Criteria”) in respect of such Season: (1) the player played in at least sixty-five (65) Regular Season games; or (2) the player (A) played in at least sixty-two (62) Regular Season games, (B) suffered a “season-ending injury” (as defined below), and (C) played in at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the Regular Season games played by his Team prior to the player suffering such injury.

For the purposes of this award eligibility, "season-ending injury" is defined very narrowly. It is not enough that a player simply misses the rest of the regular season - instead, a doctor jointly selected by the NBA and the Players Association must conclude that the injury makes it substantially more likely than not that the player would be unable to play through 31st May. In other words, the injury must be serious enough that it would likely keep him out well into the postseason. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(a)(i) For purposes of this Section 6, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement:

(A) A “season-ending injury” is an injury that, in the opinion of a physician jointly selected by the NBA and Players Association, makes it substantially more likely than not that the player would be unable to play through the May 31 following the date of such injury [...]

Additionally, to count as having "played" in a game, the player must log at least 20 minutes, and are allowed only up to two occasions per season in which a game counts even if they played between 15 and 19 minutes and 59 seconds. Therefore, a player who appears in 65 games but plays only 12 minutes in ten of them would not satisfy the eligibility requirement. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(a)(i) For purposes of this Section 6, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement:

[...] (B) A player shall be considered to have played in a Regular Season game if he played at least twenty (20) minutes of such game, provided that in respect of no more than two (2) Regular Season games per Season, such player will be considered to have played in a Regular Season game if he played at least fifteen (15) minutes and fewer than twenty (20) minutes in such game.

Grievances

The CBA recognises that unusual situations can arise, so it creates two separate appeal mechanisms. A player may use one or the other, but never both in the same season. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(a)((ii) A player who fails to satisfy the Award Eligibility Criteria in a Season may nonetheless be deemed eligible for the Applicable Generally Recognized League Honors if he prevails in either an Award Eligibility Grievance or an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge in respect of such Season in accordance with the procedures set forth in Sections 6(b) and 6(c) below. A player may not bring both an Award Eligibility Grievance and an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge in respect of the same Season.

The first is an Award Eligibility Grievance, and is intended for situations where a team deliberately keeps a player below the threshold. To win such a case, the player must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the team intentionally limited his games or minutes specifically to prevent him from qualifying for award eligibility (certain contract bonuses would call for a player to get a pay rise if they win one of these awards, hence why it would benefit a team to stop their player from being eligibile from doing so; see below). Simply disagreeing with load management decisions is not enough - the player must show a deliberate effort to deprive him of award consideration. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(b) Award Eligibility Grievance.

(i) To prevail in an Award Eligibility Grievance in respect of a Season, the player bears the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the Team willfully limited the player’s number of minutes played or games played during the Regular Season with the intention of depriving the player of eligibility for one or more of the Applicable Generally Recognized League Honors for such Season. [...]

A successful grievance does not result in money damages, loss of draft picks or other penalties. The only remedy is that the player is deemed eligible for the award/awards. However, the NBA remains free to discipline the team separately if it believed the team's conduct was detrimental to the league. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(b) Award Eligibility Grievance.

(i) [...] If the player satisfies the burden and prevails in the proceeding, the sole remedy shall be that the player is deemed eligible for the Applicable Generally Recognized League Honors. For clarity, neither the foregoing sentence nor anything else in this Agreement shall limit or otherwise affect the right of the NBA to impose discipline on a Team for conduct prejudicial or detrimental to the best interests of the NBA in the event a player prevails in an Award Eligibility Grievance against such Team.

This type of grievance is available only when the awards in question could have a meaningful financial impact on the player. Specifically, as above, the player must be in a situation where earning one of those honors could affect his eligibility for a higher maximum salary, a Designated Veteran Player Contract, or a Designated Veteran Player Extension. In other words, the procedure exists to protect players whose future earnings may be tied to award voting. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(b) Award Eligibility Grievance.

(ii) Award Eligibility Grievances shall be heard by the System Arbitrator.

(iii) Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Agreement, the procedures set forth in this Section 6(b) shall apply to the resolution of Award Eligibility Grievances. If in connection with such disputes, there is any conflict between the procedures set forth in this Section 6(b) and those set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, the procedures set forth in this Section shall control.

(iv) A player may only bring an Award Eligibility Grievance in respect of a Season if being awarded one of the Applicable Generally Recognized League Honors in such Season could impact whether the player is or could become eligible:

(A) Pursuant to Article II, Section 7(a)(i), to enter into a Contract or Extension with a Maximum Annual Salary in the first year covered by the Contract or extended term, as applicable, in excess of twenty-five percent (25%) of the Salary Cap by virtue of satisfying the Higher Max Criteria;

(B) Pursuant to Article II, Section 7(a)(ii), to enter into a Designated Veteran Player Contract; or

(C) Pursuant to Article II, Section 7(e), to enter into a Designated Veteran Player Extension.

The grievance process is designed to move extremely quickly. A player must file within two days after it becomes mathematically impossible for him to reach 65 qualifying games and, in all cases, no later than the day after the regular season ends, and evidence must be exchanged almost immediately. The dispute is heard by the System Arbitrator, generally within two days, by videoconference, with a hearing lasting no more than one day, and the arbitrator must then issue a decision the following day. The ruling is final and cannot be appealed. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(b) Award Eligibility Grievance.

(v) An Award Eligibility Grievance must be brought by a player within two (2) days of the date on which it becomes mathematically impossible for the player to play sixty-five (65) Regular Season games in a Season; provided, however, that any such Grievance must be initiated no later than 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the day following the last day of the Regular Season.

(vi) A player may initiate an Award Eligibility Grievance against a Team by serving a written notice thereof on the Team, with a copy of such written notice to be filed with the System Arbitrator, the Players Association, and the NBA. Such written notice shall be accompanied by a witness list, relevant documents, and other evidentiary materials on which the player intends to rely in his affirmative case. No later than 11:59 p.m. eastern on the date following the date on which the Team received written notice of the Award Eligibility Grievance, the Team shall provide to the player, the NBA, and the Players Association a witness list, relevant documents, and other evidentiary materials on which the Team intends to rely in its affirmative case. Absent a showing of good cause, no party may proffer, refer to, or rely on the testimony of any witness, document, or other evidentiary material in its affirmative case that has not been identified to the other side as required by this Section 6(b)(vi).

(vii) The System Arbitrator shall convene a hearing at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than two (2) days following the System Arbitrator’s receipt of notice of the Award Eligibility Grievance. The hearing shall take place by videoconference and shall last no longer than one (1) day. The Players Association, the NBA, and the player and Team that are parties to the proceeding shall each have the right to participate in the hearing.

(viii) The System Arbitrator shall render a decision not later than the day following the date of the hearing, and the decision shall be accompanied by a written opinion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the System Arbitrator determines that expedition so requires, he/she shall accompany the decision with a written summary of the grounds upon which the decision is based, and a full written opinion may follow within a reasonable time thereafter. The decision of the System Arbitrator shall constitute full, final, and complete disposition of the dispute and shall be binding upon the parties to this Agreement, and the player and Team that are parties to the proceeding, and there shall be no appeal to the Appeals Panel.

(ix) Should circumstances warrant, each of the deadlines set forth in this Section 6(b) may be reasonably modified by agreement of the NBA and Players Association.

Extraordinary circumstances

The second mechanism is known as an "Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge". This is not aimed at team misconduct, unlike the above. Instead, it addresses situations where unusual events outside the player's control prevented him from reaching the threshold.

To prevail, the player must prove three things.

● Extraordinary circumstances made it impracticable for him to play in one or more missed games. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(c) Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge.

(i) To prevail in an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge in respect of a Season, the player bears the burden of proving that:

(A) Due to extraordinary circumstances, it was impracticable for him to play in one (1) or more of the Regular Season game(s) that he missed during such Season;[...]

● Had those extraordinary circumstances not occurred, he would have reached the 65-game requirement. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(c) Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge.

(i) To prevail in an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge in respect of a Season, the player bears the burden of proving that:

[...] (B) He would have satisfied the Award Eligibility Criterion set forth in Section 6(a)(1) above if he had played in every game that he missed due to the extraordinary circumstances (i.e., assuming that he would have played twenty (20) minutes in each such missed game) [...]

● Considering all the circumstances, it would be unfair to exclude him from award eligibility. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(c) Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge.

(i) To prevail in an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge in respect of a Season, the player bears the burden of proving that:

[...] (C) As a result of the extraordinary circumstances, and taking into account the totality of the circumstances, including whether the player did not play in other Regular Season games in which he could have played during such Season, it would be unjust to exclude the player from eligibility for the Applicable Generally Recognized League Honors for such Season.

This is a high bar, which is intentional. A player cannot simply point to a handful of missed games and ask for an exception. The challenge is reserved for genuinely unusual situations where strict application of the rule would produce an unjust result. If successful, the only remedy is the same as in a grievance proceeding - the player is deemed eligible for the awards. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(C)(ii) If the player satisfies the burden and prevails in the proceeding, the sole remedy shall be that the player is deemed eligible for the Applicable Generally Recognized League Honors.

Extraordinary Circumstances Challenges are heard by an independent expert jointly selected by the NBA and the Players Association, and like grievances, the process is heavily expedited. Challenges may be filed only at the very end of the regular season, hearings must occur within two days, and decisions must generally be issued the next day, with the ruling being final. ⓘArticle XXIX (Miscellaneous) Section 6 (Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors):

(C)(iii) Extraordinary Circumstances Challenges shall be heard by an independent expert jointly selected by the NBA and Players Association (the “Challenge Expert”).

(iv) Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Agreement, the procedures set forth in this Section 6(c) shall apply to the resolution of Extraordinary Circumstances Challenges. If in connection with such disputes, there is any conflict between the procedures set forth in this Section 6(c) and those set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, the procedures set forth in this Section shall control.

(v) An Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge must be brought by a player in respect of a Season no earlier than 12:00 p.m. eastern time on the last day of the Regular Season and no later than 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the day following the last day of the Regular Season.

(vi) A player may initiate an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge by serving a written notice thereof on the NBA and his Team, with a copy of such written notice to be filed with the Challenge Expert and the Players Association. The NBA may provide notice thereof to any Team with which the player was under contract during the Season. The player’s written notice shall be accompanied by a witness list, relevant documents, and other evidentiary materials on which the player intends to rely in his affirmative case. No later than 11:59 p.m. eastern on the date following the date on which the Team received written notice of the Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge, the Team shall provide to the player, the NBA, and the Players Association a witness list, relevant documents, and other evidentiary materials (if any) on which the Team intends to rely in its affirmative case (if any). Absent a showing of good cause, neither the player nor the Team may proffer, refer to, or rely on the testimony of any witness, document, or other evidentiary material in its affirmative case that has not been identified as required by this Section 6(c)(vi).

(vii) The Challenge Expert shall convene a hearing at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than two (2) days following the Expert’s receipt of notice of the Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge. The hearing shall take place by videoconference and shall last no longer than one (1) day. The player, the Players Association, the NBA, and any Team for which the player played during the Season shall have the right to participate in the hearing.

(viii) The Challenge Expert shall render a decision not later than the day following the date of the hearing, and the decision shall be accompanied by a written opinion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Challenge Expert determines that expedition so requires, he/she shall accompany the decision with a written summary of the grounds upon which the decision is based, and a full written opinion may follow within a reasonable time thereafter. The decision shall constitute full, final, and complete disposition of the matter.

(x) Should circumstances warrant, each of the deadlines set forth in this Section 6(c) may be reasonably modified by agreement of the NBA and Players Association.

Bonuses

As above, NBA contracts can provide for financial benefits if the player involved wins one of these awards. The details on that are covered here.