Oct 30, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) looks on from the bench as he sits next to forward Nicolas Batum (33) in the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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Kawhi Leonard not to be considered for any NBA award this season, here’s why

Kawhi Leonard out, ineligible for awards as Clippers hit 18 games

The NBA season is heating up as teams near the 20-game milestone. For the Los Angeles Clippers, Sunday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers marked their 18th game of the season.

Despite missing their superstar forward, Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have shown impressive form. Leonard, who hasn’t stepped on the court this season, is now officially ineligible for any NBA awards this year, given the 18-game threshold.

Kawhi has officially missed 18 games this season that will put him under the 65-game requirement for a NBA award 🚫🏆 pic.twitter.com/WNY3MTi47O
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 24, 2024

This rules him out of contention for MVP, All-NBA teams, All-Star appearances, or All-Defensive honors. While Kawhi Leonard has never won an MVP—his closest attempt being the 2016-17 season—his resume includes six All-NBA team selections and seven All-Defensive nods.

He’s also been a six-time All-Star, though this year will mark the third time in four seasons he misses the honor.

Leonard’s absence is due to ongoing knee inflammation, and there’s no confirmed timeline for his return. The Clippers had announced last month, ahead of the season opener, that Leonard would be out indefinitely as he continues to recover from the inflammation in his right knee.

NBA’s eligibility criteria for major awards

To qualify for honors like MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, All-NBA teams, and All-Defensive teams, players must meet specific participation rules:

Games played: Players need to appear in at least 65 regular-season games, with limited exceptions such as season-ending injuries.
Playing time: They must play at least 20 minutes per game for it to count toward eligibility, though they are allowed two games where they log between 15 and 20 minutes.

Exceptions to the 65-game rule

Season-ending injuries: Players who suffer season-ending injuries can still qualify if they’ve played in at least 62 games and participated in 85% of their team’s games before the injury. This allows for a maximum of 20 missed games due to injury.

Awards unaffected by the rule

The 65-game requirement does not apply to certain accolades, such as Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, or All-Rookie team selections.

Clippers performance without Leonard

Even without Leonard, the Clippers have been holding their own. Heading into Sunday’s game, they carried a 10-7 record and were riding a four-game winning streak, having won seven of their last ten games. This is a marked improvement compared to last season, when they managed just a 7-7 record in games without Leonard.

35yo Harden carrying clippers to 4th seed without Kawhi Leonard & Norman Powell.. should be All-NBA & All-star this year. pic.twitter.com/DOvsRCSsNH
— jayson tatum is better than luka doncic. (@EuroHarden) November 25, 2024

James Harden’s full offseason with the team has made a noticeable difference, allowing him to step up as a leader. Meanwhile, Norman Powell’s emergence has also bolstered the Clippers’ efforts during Kawhi Leonard’s absence.

Kawhi Leonard Clippers career in numbers

Since joining the Clippers, Leonard has averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. Over 229 games (227 starts), he has shot an efficient 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range in 33.6 minutes per game.

The Sixers and Clippers, still without Leonard, tipped off at 6 PM ET on Sunday.

Image Credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Kawhi Leonard

NBA 65-game rule

Natasha Bose

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