Ridiculous NBA rule may absolutely screw Victor Wembanyama while helping Spurs

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama just barely qualified for NBA awards eligibility. However, Wembanyama has already had repeated run-ins with the NBA's 65-games-played rule twice in three years.

Last season, despite leading the NBA in total blocks and blocks per game, he was ineligible for end-of-season awards. That was due to him only appearing in 46 games.

This season, he managed to qualify for NBA honors such as Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA. Nevertheless, he only did so because the Spurs played an extra game due to the NBA Cup Finals.

As CBS Sports' Sam Quinn points out, the problem with the 65 minimum games played rule is that it can dramatically affect player contracts, and Wembanyama may be the poster child of that.

The 65-game rule is the newest obstacle for Victor Wembanyama

Quinn points out that by not making all-NBA or winning Defensive Player of the Year last season, it makes it much harder for him to qualify for a supermax contract. A super max contract would pay him 30% of the salary cap.

From the Spurs perspective, they might secretly be hoping that he misses that threshold. After all, it could save them a boatload in salary and possible future luxury tax payments.

Wembanyama will still have a chance to qualify for a supermax contract, but he may run up against the NBA's games-played requirement yet again.

For him to qualify for a supermax he would have to make All-NBA or win Defensive Player of the Year in two of three seasons between his second and fourth year in the league.

Wembanyama faces an uphill battle to receive a super max contract

Even if he were to accomplish both this season, him making All-NBA as a rookie doesn't count toward qualifying for a supermax. As a result, he'd have to play at least 65 games next season and make all-NBA, win Defensive Player of the Year, or win MVP.

That might not seem all that difficult for a player of his caliber, but that really doesn't leave him much room for error. After all, the Spurs hope he'll be able to hold up over a long playoff run that could tack at least another 20 games on to this season.

Then after a potentially short summer, Wembanyama would have to play at least 65 games at a high enough level to win one of those awards or honors. It's a tall task and doesn't leave him much room for error in the health department.

The money at stake is huge, with him possibly receiving at least $300 million if he qualifies for a super max and only around $250 if he doesn't. From a team-building perspective, him making drastically less while still being one of the best players in the NBA is a massive advantage.

One that could make it easier for the Spurs to keep Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. However, the NBA having a rule in place that costs its best players tens of millions probably won't be a rule that will be in place very long.