Following Tony Allen’s jersey retirement ceremony in Memphis, John Hollinger of The Athletic examined Allen’s six All-Defensive seasons with the Grizzlies. Hollinger pointed out that under the NBA’s current 65-game rule, Allen would have been ineligible for All-Defensive honors in five of those six years.
It’s important to note that the 65-game rule isn’t just about appearing in a minimum number of games. It also necessitates players to reach the 20-minute threshold in at least 63 games and to play 15 or more minutes in two others.
Los Angeles Clippers Kris Dunn Out Of Consideration for All-Defense Team
With notable defensive players like Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Davis potentially falling short of the 65-game threshold this season, the door is open for less prominent players to earn spots on the All-Defensive teams. However, several impactful defensive role players have already been ruled out of contention.
Hollinger highlights Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn as a prime example. Dunn’s statistical contributions are undeniable. He leads the NBA in defensive box plus-minus and ranks second in steal percentage, trailing only Dyson Daniels. Additionally, he’s third in deflections per 36 minutes, significantly contributing to the Clippers’ third-best defensive rating in the league.
Although Dunn has appeared in 60 games and is on pace to exceed the 65-game minimum, he has only played 20 or more minutes in 44 of those games. This means he will not meet the minutes-played requirement for award consideration, despite his compelling defensive performance. With only 14 games remaining in the Clippers’ season, Dunn’s strong case for All-Defense will go unrecognized due to the NBA’s 65-game rule.