SACRAMENTO — Devin Booker can only miss one more game to be eligible for NBA postseason awards under the 65-game rule.
No worries.
“That is what it is,” Booker said on Tuesday, March 3. “The postseason award I want is playoff wins on route to get an NBA championship. Anything else doesn’t matter.”
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The five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection has played 44 games this season.
The Phoenix Suns (34-26) had 22 games left heading into the matchup with the Sacramento Kings (14-48) at Golden 1 Center on March 3.
Booker stands a good chance of making All-NBA this season when taking into consideration the Suns are playing beyond preseason predictions and he’s averaging a team-high 24.7 points and 6.1 assists.
The Suns are seventh in the Western Conference ahead of that game, but just two games behind the Los Angeles Lakers (36-24) for sixth and trailing the Houston Rockets (38-22) by four for third.
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The top six teams in each conference make the playoffs, while teams seven through 10 battle in the play-in tournament for the seventh and eighth seeds.
“I think we can make push for sixth and go from there,” Suns guard Jalen Green said.
However, the numbers may not add up for Booker with the 65-game rule.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) defends during the second quarter at FedExForum in Memphis, on Jan. 7, 2026.
“The fans want people to play,” Booker said. “We should play. You should have to play to get the awards. So I don’t see a problem with it other than guys trying to rush back and maybe prolong the injury from what it was supposed to be, but I think the rule is fine. You want to be able to play, to be out there.”
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Booker missed Phoenix’s last four games with a right hip strain he suffered in the first half on Feb. 19 against the San Antonio Spurs in Austin. He had missed seven consecutive games with a right ankle sprain, returned for two games before sitting out Phoenix’s final game before the All-Star break.
Booker participated in the NBA All-Star 3-point contest and U.S. vs. World All-Star tournament, but he felt discomfort with the hip in the first quarter against the Spurs. Booker tried to play through it in the second quarter, but he was unable to do so and was ruled out for the second half.
Now set to return, Booker looks back at the hip strain as a “blessing in disguise” overall.
Phoenix Suns’ Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin, and Devin Booker (right) watch the action against the Los Angeles Lakers at Mortgage Matchup Center on Feb. 26, 2026, in Phoenix.
“Time for the ankle to heal properly,” said Booker, who rushed back from the ankle injury to play before the break. “You don’t know for sure, but could’ve been overcompensating the hip trying to overwork for the ankle, but it’s over with now. Both feel good. I’m ready to go.”
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The 65-game rule was implemented in the 2023-24 season with the intent to curb load management, where star players sit out occasional games. It’s drawn criticism this season because two of the leading MVP candidates, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets big Nikola Jokic, may miss out on the award for failing to play the required number of games.
Gilgeous-Alexander is at 51 games. Jokic stands at 46 games. Oklahoma City (47-15) and Denver (38-24) each have 20 games remaining.
Gilgeous-Alexander can only miss six more games to stay award-eligible.
Jokic has fewer DNPs to collect. If the three-time MVP is sidelined for two more games, he won’t be eligible for end-of-season awards.
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Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Devin Booker addresses 65-game rule for NBA postseason honors