JB Bickerstaff reveals what’s causing the buzz for MVP Cade Cunningham

The The MVP case of Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham continues to gain significant momentum. The Pistons just beat the Orlando Magic 106-92 on the road. This is Detroit’s most regular-season win streak of 45 since 2007-08, and The Pistons All-Star was a major reason why.

Cunningham had another impressive performance with 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and two steals. He even stepped up defensively, accepting the challenge of guarding Magic forward Paolo Banchero. Pistons head coach Jay Bickerstaff was a big proponent of Cunningham as an MVP candidate. He continued that campaign in the media after the Pistons’ win in Orlando.

“He’s special because of the type of person he is. He’s special because of the type of teammate he is. He’s a blessing to be around and work with every day,” Bickerstaff explained. “Basketball skills speak for themselves. There’s nothing on the floor that he can’t do on both ends of the floor. He can score, he can distribute, he can manipulate, he can stop, block shots and steal. Whatever you want him to do on the basketball court, he’s capable, and it’s not all in his head, he’s got everything hollow.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the current betting favourite for the coveted MVP award. Cunningham is currently third in most rankings. Cunningham still has plenty of regular season left to make his case, despite the Thunder guard trying to win the award in back-to-back seasons for Oklahoma City.

Gilgeous-Alexander has missed the last nine games due to injury. If he misses six more games, he will no longer be eligible for MVP. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić also missed extended time due to a knee injury. Jokic can only miss one more game before the qualification ends. The Nuggets also dropped to the fifth seed in the Western Conference after going 4-7 through February.

Cunningham has 23 games left in the regular season to make his case. He is currently averaging 25.4 points, 9.8 assists and 5.8 rebounds in the 2025-26 regular season. These numbers rank him in the top 15 in scoring and second in assists. Cunningham also posted 33 double-doubles this season as the Pistons’ starting point guard.

His outstanding production helped lead Detroit to a 45-14 record. This puts them in first place in the Eastern Conference and with the best winning percentage in the NBA. Detroit has made a huge turnaround since drafting Cunningham. They have put their days as one of the worst losers behind them with the success they earned this season and last season.

Cunningham also played on many national television stages to help get his games more public to the league’s voters. The Pistons have eight more nationally televised games before the season ends. The Pistons must continue to grow as the league’s best team in terms of record, with elite-level production from their All-Star starter in 2026. Cunningham can make a legitimate path to becoming the first Pistons player to win an MVP in franchise history.