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Tyrese Haliburton opened up about a rule that is changing the financial stability of professional players. For some of the most talented athletes, a single injury can now erase tens of millions of dollars from their next contract.
Haliburton sat down with LeBron James to discuss the NBA’s 65-game rule. “When this was first implemented, I get the idea. We want more guys to play, and I was known as one of the first guys to say I hated it because the year the 65-game rule was implemented was my contract year,” Haliburton stated.
He acknowledged that the league wanted stars to appear in more regular-season games and reduce load management. However, the timing affected him because the rule arrived during the season that determined the value of his rookie extension.
These comments came from a video clip shared by the X account @cptdankkk, featuring his appearance on the Mind the Game podcast.
“I had to play 65 games to make All-NBA to be eligible for the supermax. I said that I didn’t like it at the time, and I still feel that way. I’ve talked with Commissioner Silver, and we talked about how, from a financial standpoint, it can only hurt so many people in that year,” he added.
Under the current system, players must reach the games-played threshold to qualify for All-NBA. Earning an All-NBA spot matters because it determines eligibility for supermax contracts.
Haliburton continued his thought by noting, “Guys who are like me at that time. It was me, Ant, and LaMelo at that time that were trying to get that supermax.”
He clarified that “Ant” refers to Anthony Edwards. He also mentioned LaMelo Ball. All three belonged to the same young generation whose earnings could be affected if injuries prevented them from reaching 65 games despite brilliant performances.
“But I think the biggest point is legacy talk. What I think about is, in 20 or 30 years, when I’m not playing, and I’m hearing my kids compare eras, and they’re going over the list of accolades, telling me this guy only made All-NBA so many times, but he was ineligible, and they don’t know that. That could skew it in that way, which I don’t necessarily appreciate in any way,” he explained.
This is his biggest concern. Future generations may judge careers by award totals. Fans may never know a player missed All-NBA because of the eligibility rule instead of poor performance.
“NBA players want to play. We don’t want to sit down. We want to play. I feel there has to be a conversation,” Haliburton concluded.
Why the NBA’s 65-game rule remains one of the league’s biggest debates
The 65-game rule was introduced before the 2023-24 season as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, according to The Athletic. Its main purpose was to reduce load management. The league wanted to encourage stars to play more often.
More stars have appeared in regular-season games. Fans get better value when they buy tickets. Awards now reward both excellence and durability. Silver has publicly said the rule is working.
Still, injuries can punish deserving players. Missing 65 games by even one game can remove All-NBA eligibility. That small gap can cost players tens of millions through supermax contracts.
Some injury exceptions now exist through the extraordinary-circumstances process. However, many players and the NBPA believe the current system is still too rigid.
With the current CBA running through 2029-30, any changes would require future negotiations between the NBA and the NBPA.
Do you believe preserving basketball history is worth adjusting the rulebook?
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