The MVP award is the most prestigious award in the entire sport, awarded to the player with the best individual season who made a major contribution to his team, especially in helping them notch victories together. However, it has also become, at times, dependent on the narrative for players.
As a result, new players joining the discussion take a bit of time, leading to some excellent seasons getting swept under the rug. This year, Cade Cunningham is making a viable case. And while he isn’t high on the MVP pyramid in most fans’ eyes, the coaches are starting to recognize his value.
Cade Cunningham Is Making the Entire League a Believer
After the Detroit Pistons put together the longest losing streak in the history of the NBA, their former first overall pick despondently said, “We are better than this.” Two seasons later, he is making that a reality.
Last year, they turned things around in a major way, going from one of the worst squads in the league to a playoff lock who gave the New York Knicks a six-game war in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
This year, they’ve taken a mighty jump forward. At 21-6, they are the class of the conference, and that includes a recent bump in the road when they’ve lost four of their last 10. However, for the season as a whole, their dominance over the East has been unilateral.
As a result, many believe Cunningham, as the best player on the best team in the conference, should have a legitimate claim to the MVP award. Moreover, his numbers are nothing to scoff at.
Right now, he’s averaging 27.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 9.2 assists while providing excellent all-around defense. Yet, on the latest MVP ladder from the league’s official website, he stands at fourth place, behind Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Dončić.
But across the league, players and coaches are starting to give him more value by the minute. The most recent case was Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, who got a first-hand preview of the dynamic guard’s talents as he put up a near triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.
“When you look at the pace, his speed and his ability to control the game not just from scoring but passing … he understands when it’s time to go. He should be mentioned with the MVPs, if not MVP right now, because of the high level he’s playing.”
Even though the Mavericks were able to continue their hot streak with a 116-114 overtime victory, Cunningham gave Dallas all they could handle and finished as the lone starter on the roster with a positive net rating.