Wembanyama's rib MRI came back clean.

Victor Wembanyama's rib MRI came back clean, and now the math is simple: he needs to log at least 20 minutes in one of the Spurs' remaining games to hit the 65-game threshold required for individual awards eligibility. Tonight's game against Dallas is the target.

The 65-game rule was introduced to incentivize stars to actually play in the regular season. Instead, it's created a scenario where one of the most dominant two-way players in the league might be ineligible for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year because of a rib injury he had no control over. The NBA Players Association has already spoken out against the rule, calling for reform.

Wembanyama's season numbers — leading the Spurs to the #2 seed in the West as a 22-year-old — make him a legitimate candidate for both awards. If he plays tonight, the debate becomes about whether he deserves to win. If he doesn't hit 65, the debate becomes about whether the rule should exist at all. Either way, the 65-game minimum is overshadowing what should be a celebration of one of the best seasons by a young player in NBA history.