Cade Cunningham Granted 2026 NBA Awards Eligibility

The NBA and NBPA have approved an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge for Cade Cunningham, granting him eligibility for 2026 MVP and All-NBA honors despite playing only 63 games. Cunningham missed 12 games due to a collapsed lung diagnosed on March 17, falling short of the 65-game threshold. Following this ruling, he is considered a strong contender for All-NBA selection and is currently being highlighted as a high-value pick for Conference Finals MVP honors.