Devin Booker’s All-NBA Hopes Rest on Unyielding Rule
One week remains in the regular season. The stretch will decide postseason seeding and individual award eligibility for the Phoenix Suns.
Devin Booker, All-NBA eligibility and the unyielding 65-game rule are central here. Availability may determine his chances more than peak scoring nights.
Details of the 65-game rule
The NBA introduced the 65-game eligibility rule in 2023. Players must appear in at least 65 regular-season games to qualify for All-NBA honors.
Of those games, at least 63 must include 20 minutes played. Up to two games can count with 15 to 19 minutes. Games with fewer than 15 minutes do not count toward the 65-game threshold.
Booker’s current status
Booker has played 62 games so far this season. Sixty of those outings meet the 20-minute requirement.
Two appearances fall short of the 15-minute minimum. One was an early exit against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 1. The other was a short stint versus the San Antonio Spurs on February 19.
| Statistic | This season | Last season |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 25.8 | 25.6 |
| Field goal % | 45.5% | — |
| 3-point % | 33.0% | — |
| Assists | 6.0 | — |
| Rebounds | 3.9 | — |
| Turnovers | 3.1 | — |
Four regular-season games remain. If Booker plays all four for 20-plus minutes, he would appear in 66 games. However, two sub-15-minute appearances keep his eligible total at 64.
Why the numbers matter
Under the rule, Booker could be ineligible despite logging 66 games. The two short appearances cannot be counted toward the 65-game threshold.
That detail reshapes award races. Availability trumps raw counting stats in this framework.
How the field has been altered this year
Several top players fall short of the 65-game mark. Luka Dončić finished at 64 games and is done for the regular season.
Dončić missed one game after accumulating 16 technical fouls. Without that suspension, he would have reached eligibility.
- Stephen Curry finished the season with 40 games played.
- Cade Cunningham ended at 61 games played.
- Anthony Edwards has 60 games and would top out at 64 if he plays the remaining matches.
Edwards also logged a three-minute appearance against the Indiana Pacers in October. That outing reduces his count of fully eligible games.
Filtered to guards who meet the rule, Booker’s profile looks stronger. He ranks among the top scoring eligible guards and sits sixth in that group in scoring. His six assists per game place him about 11th among eligible guards.
Appeals and the debate over fairness
Teams may file appeals. There is talk the Suns could petition the league. The Lakers reportedly are considering an appeal for Dončić.
Both teams argue players missed time for reasons beyond their control. The league’s intent was to reward availability, but injuries complicate that goal.
Critics call the rule arbitrary. Supporters say it protects the product and honors consistent participation.
What this means going forward
The final week will be decisive for Booker’s All-NBA hopes. Playing time and minutes now matter as much as per-game production.
How the NBA handles any appeals could set precedent. The rule’s impact has already reshaped the awards landscape this season.
For ongoing coverage, Filmogaz.com will monitor any official rulings and team filings. The postseason arrival will not erase these award decisions.
