DeMar DeRozan says players should play at least 78 games to be in the MVP race

The issue of load management has been a hot topic in the NBA for quite some time. On the one hand, teams want to make sure their stars are healthy and not overworked; on the other hand, fans want to see those players in action as much as possible.

DeMar DeRozan recently weighed in on the matter, saying the number of games played must be considered when it comes to who deserves the MVP award.

All 82 games

In a poll conducted by The Athletic asking NBA players how many games a player must play to be named the league’s Most Valuable Players, only the Compton native answered, “all 82 games.”

“All of them. All 82. … Minimum? 78,” said DeRozan.

It makes sense for Chicago Bulls forward to go to bat for imposing such a standard. After all, the midrange maestro is not a fan of missing games—not unless he absolutely has to. In fact, the USC product is as dependable as they come, playing in at least 74 games eight times in his 13-year career.

The NBA and NBPA have discussed tying the league’s awards to how many games players appear in during the course of that season.

So, how many games should a player have to play to win MVP?

We asked players at All-Star weekend: https://t.co/LkankzF6jY pic.twitter.com/vXxhiE24iB
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) February 21, 2023

Other players weigh in on the argument

At least one elite star agreed with DeRozan’s sentiment: Paul George. The Los Angeles Clippers star says a legit MVP candidate must play in at least 75 games to be seriously considered for the prestigious award.

“I think if you play at least 75 to the full 82, it just says a lot about that particular player to be able to do it for that many games. To go that long into the season with consistency requires to just be healthy and available on a nightly basis. You got to play the majority of them,” said George.