Draymond Green Claims NBA’s New Rule Had Joel Embiid Playing Through an Injury

The veteran forward has issues with the 65-game minimum for awards.

Due to a new rule that was implemented this year, NBA players must play a certain number of games to be eligible for major awards. Just past the halfway point of the seasons, more and more players appear to be coming out against the rule.

First, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton called the rule “stupid,” and he’s not the only one.

Draymond Green criticized the new rule on The Draymond Green Show, saying that it is forcing players to play while injured. He specifically mentioned Joel Embiid, who played against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night despite dealing with a knee injury and had to leave the game following a collision with Jonathan Kuminga.

“Joel comes out there tonight and he forces it,” Green said. “Now we’ve got one of our premier faces in this league, the MVP of our league, possibly hurt for an extended period of time because he’s forcing it.”

"Now we got one of the premier faces of this league possibly hurt because he's forcing it"

—@Money23Green isn't rocking with the NBA's new 65-game threshold pic.twitter.com/wAGwDbJ5vc

— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) January 31, 2024

Green also explained that since the rule wasn’t in place through previous seasons, it changes the way past winners are viewed.

“Guys didn’t face those rules before…Those lists are the same,” Green said. “I once lost a Defensive Player of the Year award to Kawhi Leonard and I think he played 51 games.”

Green is likely referring to Leonard’s first Defensive Player of the Year award in 2015, when he actually played 64 games while Green finished in second despite playing in 79. Still, Leonard would have been ineligible for the award had this rule been in use.

The NBA’s intent with the rule is to try and limit load management and allow fans to watch the league’s stars more often. However, there seems to be an unintended consequence where players may be playing through injuries just to make sure they remain eligible for awards.