Hour 2: Should the NBA Abolish the 65-Game Rule?

First Take

ESPN Radio

Sports

4.0 • 5.7K Ratings

🗓️ 25 March 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

First Take resumes with a potentially short lived NBA rule. After outcry from Cade Cunningham's agent, the NBA may consider changing the 65 game minimum to win awards. Doggy doesn't wants EVERYONE to quit their whining! Then, Tiger's return to the TGL had us thinking.. would you want to play indoor golf with Stephen A.? Next, Mad Dog is MAD about Joe Burrow playing flag football, late Sweet Sixteen start times, and the MLB taking games away from local networks! Finally, Jess Mendoza's Top 5 teams that can stop a Dodgers threepeat! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	If you're looking to ensure your place, Sheila's wheels are super ace.
0:06.8	We've got an offer that a stance give a gift card for 40 pounds for brilliant home insurance deals.
0:14.3	Go direct to Sheila's wheels.
0:17.3	40 poundsy gift card applies for new Home Essentials policies purchased direct between the 5th of March and the 28th of April 2026.
0:24.2	See times and conditions at Sheila's Wheels.com.
0:31.4	There's tonight's ESPN NBA Wednesday doubleheader.
0:34.0	The Hawks take on the Eastern Conference leading pistons at 7 Eastern,
0:36.8	and then the Timberwolves host Katie and the Rockets.
0:39.3	NBA countdown crew will tip off our coverage at 6.30 p.m. Eastern.
0:45.3	All right, so we got a situation happening right now in the NBA.
0:48.1	Teams are tanking and abusing load management, but then we have rules to try and subside
0:52.5	that. You must play 65 games in order to be
0:55.5	eligible for end-of-season awards. That doesn't always mean MVP or defensive player of the year.
1:01.4	There's also all-MBA honors. And so the situation is a very good young player on a very good
1:06.8	team, has a very serious injury, and the rule is going to affect if he qualifies for
1:12.0	his second All-B-A honors. That player is Cade Cunningham, and his camp is pissed. Rightfully so.
1:18.6	Cade Cunningham's agent, Jeff Schwartz, spoke about the 65-game rule telling ESPN Sham Shirani a
1:23.6	quote, Kate has delivered a first-team all-M NBA season if he falls just short of an arbitrary
1:29.3	games played threshold due to a legitimate injury. It should not disqualify him from recognition
1:35.9	he has clearly earned over the course of the season. The league should be rewarding excellence,
1:40.5	not enforcing rigid cutoffs that ignore context. An exception needs to be made."
1:46.0	End quote.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from ESPN Radio, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of ESPN Radio and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.