Tyrese Haliburton, an Indiana Pacers guard, fell to the floor against the Boston Celtics on January 8. He immediately began grimacing. His left hamstring was ailing him, so his teammates had to carry him off the floor.
The Pacers player has been terrific this season and has already been nominated to the 2024 NBA All-player game, but that was a watershed moment in his career and, maybe, his wallet.At the time, Haliburton had already missed three games of the 2023-24 season due to injuries. The grade 1 hamstring strain would keep him out for the foreseeable future, causing him to miss even more time. It was a heartbreaking defeat for Haliburton, who had high hopes of making the All-NBA squad this season.
The two-time All-Star was scheduled to be reevaluated for the injury in the following weeks. He then missed 10 of his team’s next 11 games, bringing his total number of missing games this season to 13. Haliburton can’t afford to be gone for much longer if he wants to maximize his new contract extension.
That’s because the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) mandates players to play 65 games to be eligible for certain league awards. “No player shall be eligible for NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Defensive Player of the Year, NBA Most Improved Player, All-NBA Team (First, Second, or Third), or NBA All-Defensive Team (First or Second) honours (the “Applicable Generally Recognized League Honours”) for a Season unless the player has satisfied at least one of the following criteria (the “Award Eligibility Criteria”) in relation to such Season: (1) The player participated in at least sixty-five (65) regular season games…” The CBA reads in part. Players must suit up for 20 minutes in a game for it to count as one of their 65 appearances, with two exceptions of 15 minutes.
This season, Haliburton’s inclusion on the All-NBA team has significant implications. If he is named to one of the three All-NBA teams, his five-year contract extension will begin at 30% of the salary cap, which the NBA just revealed to teams is expected to be $141 million next season, according to The Athletic. If Haliburton is not named to the All-NBA team, his contract will begin at 25% of the cap. Both packages would include eight percent raises throughout the first year of the pact.
According to the most recent cap predictions, Haliburton’s next contract would be five years and $245.3 million if he makes All-NBA in 2024. If he fails to receive the honour or becomes ineligible due to injury, the total value would be $204.5 million. That’s approximately a $41 million difference that the star guard must consider for the rest of the season.
“I’m human, just like you people. When questioned if he was aware of the 65-game rule, Haliburton responded, “I use the internet.” “I am also aware of the financial implications. But, at the end of the day, I have to take the greatest care of my body possible and place myself in the ideal settings.”
Haliburton has missed 13 games this season, bringing his total appearances to 69 as of today. Indiana has 34 games remaining.
But it’s not that simple. Haliburton only played 13:29 of the game before suffering a hamstring injury. Because that amount is less than 15 minutes, it is not considered a game played. In theory, the 23-year-old may play as many as 68 games this season.
Fortunately for the Pacers star, according to Fieldhouse Files, the In-Season Tournament Championship game, which Indiana won but does not count as a regular season game, will count toward Haliburton’s 65-game total. So he needs to play 64 of Indiana’s 82 games. That means he may miss four games the rest of the season and still be eligible.
“I know I don’t have a lot of [missed] games remaining. I think it’s a foolish regulation, as do many other players in the league. “This is what the owners want,” Haliburton stated of the new CBA regulation. If he falls short of 65 games, he can challenge or file a grievance, but he must either prove that the Pacers held him back on purpose or that unforeseen circumstances prevented him from meeting the 65-game requirement. Both appear improbable at the moment.
Haliburton understands that he needs to play 65 games if possible and will do all in his power to make that happen. He was limited in minutes during his return from injury on Tuesday, and his availability for back-to-backs in the future is currently unknown.
“As long as the owners are happy,” Haliburton stated while discussing the rules and the new CBA.
The difference in total contract size for Haliburton on his next deal will be determined by both the 2024-25 salary cap and his selection to the All-NBA team this season. As of today, he has 41 million reasons to pursue those awards. He’s played well when available this season and was voted an All-Star starter for a reason, but he needs his health to stay on his side for the rest of the season if he wants to earn the most money possible on his next contract.
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