Cade Cunningham Officially Stakes His Claim To Be The 2026 NBA MVP

Last season, Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons took a major step forward, and while they fell in round one of the NBA Playoffs, this is a team that made a statement that they're here to stay in the Eastern Conference. In 2025/26, they've taken things to another level entirely, and with a record of 41-13, they've now officially got the best record in the entire NBA.

On Thursday night, they made a major statement at Madison Square Garden, as they blew out the New York Knicks, with Cunningham putting up 42 points in what was an iconic performance.

That performance now has many calling Cade a top-five player in the league, and when asked about it after the game, he had a much bigger statement to make, claiming that he's now the MVP of the 2026 campaign.

"I think I am MVP."

As of right now, many would have someone like Nikola Jokic as MVP favorite, but given that the Pistons have the best record in the NBA, Cunningham certainly has a case as the league MVP. In 2025/26, the former No. 1 pick is averaging 26 points, 6 boards and 10 assists per game, and with the team rolling, he's arguably the hottest player in the entire NBA.

Ultimately, there's still a long way to go this season, but if Cunningham stays healthy and on a roll, there's a case to be made for MVP, and while he may not win it this year, he'll clearly be in the discussion for years to come.