Devin Booker must play to remain award-eligible

Mar 6, 2026 1:03 PM

Suns guard Devin Booker is nearing the minimum game threshold required to qualify for major postseason honors such as All-NBA, but he said the rule is not something he is focused on, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.

To remain eligible, Booker can miss no more than one additional game this season. However, he made it clear that individual recognition is secondary to team success and postseason performance.

“That is what it is,” Booker said on Tuesday. “The postseason award I want is playoff wins en route to get an NBA championship. Anything else doesn’t matter.”

Rankin notes that Booker actually supports the league’s 65-game requirement. The four-time All-Star believes the rule aligns with what fans want, though he acknowledged one potential drawback.

“The fans want people to play,” he said. “We should play. You should have to play to get the awards. So I don’t see a problem with it other than guys trying to rush back and maybe prolong the injury from what it was supposed to be, but I think the rule is fine. You want to be able to play, to be out there.”