Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers’ rising star, faces a critical challenge as he returns from a hamstring injury. According to Sports Illustrated, he aims to meet the league’s new Player Participation Policy announced on Jan. 30. This policy stipulates that players must play more than 20 minutes in 65 games to qualify for postseason awards, including the prestigious All-NBA team.
Haliburton, who recently signed a max contract extension worth $204.5
million, is eligible for an additional $41 million if he makes the All-NBA team. However, missing more than three games for the rest of the season could jeopardize his qualification. The stringent rule is part of the NBA’s effort to curb “load management” and maintain the value of the regular season, particularly as the league negotiates a new broadcast rights deal.Expressing his frustration with the rule, Haliburton remarked, “I think it’s a stupid rule, like plenty of the guys in the league, but this is what the owners want, so as players, we gotta do our job and play in 65 games if we’re able to.”
The 65-game threshold and the In-Season Tournament were introduced to address concerns about key players sitting out, potentially diminishing the value of regular-season games. While media members vote for postseason awards, the rule seeks to ensure that the best players actively contribute throughout the season.
Haliburton, acknowledging the necessity to adhere to the rule, expressed the
sentiments of many players in the league. “So, that’s what I gotta do, take care of my body to be able to play in those games, and I think you’re seeing other players in the league kind of face the same thing. As long as the owners are happy,” in a statement to The Athletic.This rule also impacts other standout players like Joel Embiid, who, despite being a mid-season MVP favorite, could miss out on the MVP/All-NBA
threshold if he exceeds the allowed number of games missed. The rule, implemented to uphold the value of the regular season, places considerable financial stakes on players like Haliburton, who risk losing a substantial bonus if they fall short of the mandated games played.RELATED CONTENT: Jalen Rose Dedicates Himself to Educating Detroit’s Children