Pistons Coach Touts Cade Cunningham for MVP

JB Bickerstaff believes Cunningham's impact on the East-leading Pistons makes him the MVP frontrunner.

Feb. 27, 2026 at 11:22pm

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Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff has made a strong case for star player Cade Cunningham to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player award this season. Bickerstaff cited Cunningham's consistent two-way play and the Pistons' league-leading record as key factors that should earn him the MVP honor.

Why it matters

Cunningham's potential MVP campaign highlights the Pistons' remarkable turnaround this season, as they have emerged as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference after several down years. A Cunningham MVP would also validate the Pistons' decision to select him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

The details

Bickerstaff argued that the MVP should go to "the best player on the team with the best win percentage," which describes Cunningham's role with the 43-14 Pistons. The second-year guard has taken a major leap, averaging 25.4 points, 9.8 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 block per game while shooting 45.9% from the field.

  • The NBA regular season is in its final stretch.

The players

Cade Cunningham

The Detroit Pistons' star player and a leading candidate for the NBA MVP award this season.

JB Bickerstaff

The head coach of the Detroit Pistons, who has publicly campaigned for Cunningham to win the MVP.

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What they’re saying

“The best player on the team with the best win percentage, to me, is the guy that deserves to be MVP. He doesn't take nights or times or possessions off defensively. He'll score his 25 and make his teammates better.”

— JB Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons (ESPN)

The takeaway

Cade Cunningham's standout season has the Pistons atop the Eastern Conference, and his coach believes his two-way impact and the team's success make him the clear choice for NBA MVP this year.