The NBA awards race just got more interesting, as two of the league's brightest stars have successfully appealed to be included. Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers and Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons are now officially eligible for end-of-season honors like MVP and All-NBA teams.

This is a significant development, as the league's new "65-game rule" typically bars players who fall short of that threshold. Doncic appeared in 64 games, while Cunningham played in 63, putting both just under the mark.

However, the NBA's awards panel granted exemptions due to what they deemed "extraordinary circumstances." Cunningham's season was interrupted by a serious medical issue—a collapsed lung that cost him 12 games. Doncic missed two games for a joyous personal reason: to be present in Slovenia for the birth of his daughter.

Their reinstatement is a major boost to the awards landscape. Doncic, a perennial MVP candidate, led the entire league in scoring with 2,143 regular-season points, propelling the Lakers into the playoffs. Cunningham, the engine of the top-seeded Pistons in the East, showcased his elite playmaking by ranking second in the league with 634 assists.

In a contrasting decision, the appeal from Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who played 60 games, was denied. This ruling underscores the high bar for exceptions and sets the stage for a thrilling finish to the individual award season, with Doncic and Cunningham firmly back in the conversation.