Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has hit out at the new NBA player participation rule that could cost him $40m.
The 23-year-old point-guard, who has just been named as a starter in next month’s NBA All-Star game, has hit out at the rule which means there is a minimum games played requirement for end-of-season awards and All-NBA honors.
As per the last collective bargaining agreement between the Players Union and the NBA last year, a 65-game threshold was brought in for players to be eligible for awards like Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year, as well as All-NBA honors.
As an all-star, Haliburton is on course for All-NBA honors this year after his performances for the Pacers but he can only miss three more games this season to be eligible after missing 13 games already.
As part of the max contract extension he signed with the Pacers last year, Haliburton will earn up to 30% of the Pacers’ salary cap starting with the 2024-25 season, only if he makes the All-NBA team during the 2023-2024 campaign.
Tyrese Haliburton can only miss three more games to remain eligible for an All-NBA selection, missing out on All-NBA could cost him more than $40 million. 👀 pic.twitter.com/XrtElRNQIa
— theScore (@theScore) January 31, 2024
If he does not meet the minimum game threshold, it could cost Haliburton up to $40m across the rest of his contract, as well as a place in the All-NBA team for the season.
It is therefore unsurprising that the Pacers star has voiced his displeasure at the new rules.
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“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,” Haliburton said.
“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.”
New regulations could also cost Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is the heavy favourite to win back-to-back MVP awards this season. But, under the new regulations, he is only permitted to miss five more matches during the regular season.
As such, the fact he limped off with an injury in Tuesday’s defeat to the Golden State Warriors could prove fatal for his chances of retaining the award.
He will undergo an MRI scan on his left knee and Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said they will ‘have to wait and see’ the severity of his injury.
