Stephen A. Smith and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo join Shae Cornette on First Take to discuss Cade Cunningham’s agent, Jeff Schwartz’s, comments about the 65-game rule and if the NBA should abolish the rule.
0:00 65-game rule for awards
0:39 Jeff Schwartz and Jaylen Brown’s comments
1:59 Stephen A. on the 65-game rule
5:42 Mad Dog calls Steve Kerr a phony
6:53 An appeal process to the rule?
8:20 The stats behind the 65-game rule
10:48 Severity of the injury matters
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@Krayzboiayp
March 25, 2026 at 11:56 pm
It’s he really 1st team anyway? SGA, Luka, Wemby, Joker, Jaylen Brown
@Krayzboiayp
March 26, 2026 at 12:00 am
This is the laziest, whiniest, and most self absorbed major sports league in America. Games are unwatchable and even highlights are boring.
@RETLAW-pm8ii
March 26, 2026 at 12:00 am
Blame load management 65 game rule is more than fair.
@Krayzboiayp
March 26, 2026 at 12:03 am
The NFL is far more physical and is adding games. These guys are crying about every touch and bump and want to play half the time for full pay.
@Adkhikerandexplorer
March 26, 2026 at 12:09 am
I agree with both of them but it seems like Mad Dogg always brings up players from the 50’s and 60’s 😂 I’ve heard Wilt come out of his mouth more than any other player.
@Rahul-ty7fb
March 26, 2026 at 12:12 am
I know sometimes it’s also the teams forcing all stars to sit games too, so they also should take 50% of the blame. Really robbing the fans smh
@iMustBeCED
March 26, 2026 at 12:20 am
That last stat is WILD! Can’t believe our favs were being bums! 😭
@bernieh3669
March 26, 2026 at 12:40 am
They should keep this rule forever
@bernieh3669
March 26, 2026 at 12:41 am
I wish I can miss 20% of my work days and still get paid 100%
@christobellwilson103
March 26, 2026 at 12:50 am
Does SAS still work at ESPN?
@2SavCrew
March 26, 2026 at 12:55 am
This all goes back to changing the way the game was been refereed, pushing shooters and long 3pters as the new hot thing! And those finesse and euro players thrived Now they’re load managing players, cause they were catering to those players, which leads to a worse product because fans don’t see players they paid to see, and teams become afraid to be physical and refs get a lot more..TV time than they did a decade ago. * adjusts Tinfoil snapback*
@WestsideWoahh
March 26, 2026 at 12:56 am
I don’t like Stephen A but he’s right !! These fckn stars are soft as hell !! The nba is not going in the right place mark my words if this happens the nba will lose ratings like ever
@divinep1912
March 26, 2026 at 1:02 am
I didnt think they could bring anybody on worse than Molly but I was wrong
@TB_4
March 26, 2026 at 1:02 am
Hopefully, they can get Cade in for just a minute or two the last few games. He deserves to be All NBA. The rule is necessary but it just sucks for him.
@rogerperalta2888
March 26, 2026 at 1:35 am
Any plyer who doesn’t get the 65 games should at least qualify for 2nd and 3rd team
@Tyheir
March 26, 2026 at 1:40 am
Think it should be 60 games. Nearly 75% compared to the 80% it is currently
@Ecanem63
March 26, 2026 at 1:46 am
:27 what?
@stbcurt4250
March 26, 2026 at 1:50 am
Stephen A so wrong on this… he sounds out of touch with the context of what the agent is saying. SMH
@cedriclloyd5571
March 26, 2026 at 1:55 am
Hell, players lucky the rule wasn’t for 70 or 72 games
@ame871022
March 26, 2026 at 2:14 am
I don’t agree with appealing the rule; if you can’t play 65 games then you don’t get any awards no exceptions period. If you can’t play 79 percent of an 82 game season.
@The_don_bon_experience
March 26, 2026 at 2:26 am
65 game rule should change 😅
@collider12
March 26, 2026 at 2:32 am
Only thing it hurts is ppl not getting all nba like Cade if it was his contract year
@collider12
March 26, 2026 at 2:34 am
Steve Kerr was thinking ahead by load managing Jayson Tatum 😮
@tonyreed6748
March 26, 2026 at 2:36 am
Take away the rule, leave it up to the voters
@gagehorton6110
March 26, 2026 at 2:53 am
What a joke of a take. I hope the pistons play him for 10 seconds for the next 5 games