Many people are counting this Orlando restart as a different season for players as teams played more than 60 games before making a four month pause.
Therefore, the association has decided that the annual NBA Awards will be based of the games played until March 11th., which was when the season got suspended due to the Coronavirus.
The NBA’s annual performance awards (MVP, Rookie of Year, Sixth Man, Defensive Player, Coach of Year, etc.) will be based upon regular season through March 11, when the season suspended, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 17, 2020
Shams Charania from The Athletic also reported that the season stat leaders will include the eight seeding games in NBA restart.
Since only 22 teams attended Orlando for the season restart, the league wants to guarantee that every team has the same chance to have players selected to each award, which includes MVP, Rookie of Year, Sixth Man, Defensive Player, Coach of Year and Most Improved Player.
"The decision to exclude seeding games from awards voting ensures a fair process in which players and coaches from all 30 teams will have the same opportunity to be honored," the NBA sent its teams.