Not SGA, Not Luka Doncic, Ex-Champion Names This Pistons Superstar as MVP Favorite

It is about time that Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons get their flowers. The Pistons recorded an impressive 112-105 win over the 2024 NBA Champions, the Boston Celtics, at the TD Garden on Monday night.

The win in Boston extended the Pistons’ winning streak to four games as they build their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 21-5 record. While they maintain a 2.5-game lead over the second-place New York Knicks, back-to-back losses for the Celtics see them drop to fourth in the standings with a 15-11 record.

One of the main reasons for the impressive start to the 2025-26 campaign for the Pistons is the rise of Cade Cunningham, who was their number one overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

It has not been an easy ride for the guard so far. After losing the Rookie of the Year award to Scottie Barnes, the Oklahoma State star suffered a season-ending injury in his second season. But since then, the 24-year-old has not looked back, showing immense growth with every passing season.

While stars such as Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the top-three favorites for the MVP award this season, Cunningham has made a strong case for himself with his performances this season.

The guard is currently averaging 27.1 points, six rebounds, and 9.2 assists. No player from the Pistons has ever won the MVP award. Cade Cunningham‘s individual stats and team success should make him a strong candidate for the award.

Former NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks, Jeff Teague, who is known for making outrageous statements, showered praise on the Pistons star on the Club 520 podcast.

He is the front-runner for the MVP. His team has no other star. Everybody else has legit stars on their team. He’s the only guaranteed bona fide star on that team.

Jeff Teague said

Jeff Teague says Cade Cunningham should win MVP over players like SGA, Luka, and Jokic because he’s one of the few playing without another bona fide star on his team.

(🎥 @club520podcast / h/t @NBA__Courtside )

pic.twitter.com/i0XdiGpnLx

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 16, 2025

Teague does make a valid case for Cunningham. SGA is surrounded by the same players who helped him win the championship last season. Jokic has Jamal Murray, while Doncic is playing with LeBron James and Austin Reaves, who is having a breakout season this year.

Cade Cunningham loves to play against the Boston Celtics

With the Celtics and the Indiana Pacers dealing with long-term injuries, and Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future with the Milwaukee Bucks uncertain, the East is quite open this season.

The season is only one-third done, and there is still a long way to go, but the early signs for the Pistons have been promising. The franchise has a great chance to make it out of the East with possibly only the New York Knicks standing in its way.

Following the convincing win over the Celtics, Cunningham spoke about why he loves to play against the 2024 NBA Champions.

They’re a championship team. They’ve got a championship identity. Play a great brand of basketball, so it’s always a test for us coming in. It’s a game we love coming in for because we know that they’re going to test us and play good basketball.

MassLive quoted Cade Cunningham telling reporters

While the current Celtics roster may be very different from the one that won in 2024, they are still a strong team and remain in the mix to give other playoff teams some trouble.

Is Cade Cunningham the best point guard in the league?

Currently, there are several great point guards in the league. SGA, Doncic, Stephen Curry, and Jalen Brunson are all having impressive seasons, but so is Cunningham.

The young star’s impressive form has translated into wins, and the Pistons are currently only behind the defending champions, Oklahoma City Thunder, in the league standings.

Former NBA player Chandler Parsons believes that Cunningham is the best point guard in the league at the moment and would pick the Pistons star over Jaylen Brown, who is also having an impressive start to the season.

I think I would take Cade (between Cunningham and Brown). They are both fantastic. I think Cade is elite, I think he is the best point-guard in the NBA. He could be the starting point-guard on Team USA. I think he is that good, he has taken his game to the next level.

Chandler Parsons said on Run It Back

"Cade Cunningham is arguably the best point guard in the NBA. He could be the starting point guard on Team USA." 🇺🇸

Chandler Parsons picks Cade Cunningham over Jaylen Brown 👀@MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/tETfquupv1

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 16, 2025

It is good to see pundits and former players giving Cunningham his flowers, who, in the past, was not getting the same level of recognition as other MVP contenders.

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