Trio of NBA stars now eligible for 2023-24 awards

Lakers forward LeBron James, Spurs huge man Victor Wembanyama, and Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey all reached the 65-game benchmark on Friday, making them eligible to win end-of-season awards, in accordance with ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

James has technically appeared in merely 64 frequent season video video games, nonetheless the in-season occasion final in December counts in the direction of the 65-game requirement no matter not counting in the direction of the Lakers’ frequent season doc. That may even be the case for players like Anthony Davis — who surpassed the 65-game threshold earlier this month — and Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who’s three video video games away.

James is no longer a perennial MVP candidate like he was earlier in his career, nonetheless he has a genuine case for an All-NBA spot. He has averaged 25.2 components, 8.1 assists, and 7.3 rebounds in 35.2 minutes per recreation all through his 64 begins, with a taking photos line (.530/.401/.751) successfully above his career norm. If LeBron earns a form of 15 berths this season, he’ll lengthen his doc for career All-NBA nods to twenty, 5 higher than one other participant in league historic previous.

Reaching the 65-game threshold is possibly a lot much less important for Wembanyama since qualifying for Rookie of the 12 months or an All-Rookie crew simply isn’t required. Nonetheless, it’s important to earn votes for Defensive Participant of the 12 months, and whereas Rudy Gobert is the frontrunner for that award, Wembanyama has a shot at it. The rookie phenom has averaged a double-double (21.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG) and led the NBA in blocks per recreation (3.4) at age 20.

Wembanyama fell merely in want of the 20-minute minimal in one among his 65 appearances this season, nonetheless he logged over 19 minutes in that contest. A participant can rely as a lot as two sub-20-minute video video games in the direction of his 65-game complete if he carried out on the very least quarter-hour in these video video games.

As for Maxey, he’s a primary contender for this season’s Most Improved Participant award, having elevated his averages to 25.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, and three.7 RPG in his fourth NBA season. His taking photos percentages (.445 FG%, .374 3PT%) are down from closing 12 months, nonetheless he has been tasked with further offensive obligations in Philadelphia following James Harden‘s departure and Joel Embiid‘s knee hurt.

Maxey moreover has a case for All-NBA honors, which can impression his restricted free firm this summer season. As Marks notes on X, claiming an All-NBA spot would make the Sixers guard eligible for a Rose Rule contract starting at as a lot as 30% of the cap (instead of 25%). Such a deal may very well be value as a lot as a projected $245.3M over 5 years instead of $204.5M.