Cade Cunningham might become the Detroit Pistons’ first-ever MVP by default.
The race to win the NBA’s top individual honor in 2026 has already taken several twists and turns. Annual candidates like Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all have battled injuries this season that could see them fail to meet the NBA’s 65-game threshold for postseason award consideration.
Cunningham has been more fortunate. And the Pistons’ superstar guard could be named MVP because of it.
Jokic can only miss one more game before he is removed from MVP and All-NBA consideration. The margins are similarly thin for Doncic (five games), Gilgeous-Alexander (six games) and San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama (four games), who squares off against Cunningham in a nationally-televised matchup in Detroit on Monday night.
Cunningham has missed only four games this season and is 11 away from the cut-off. Barring a major injury, it is a factor that — combined with his All-NBA level play for the East-leading Pistons — could well deliver him the MVP award in his fifth NBA season.
NEW: The 65-Game Rule might deliver Cade Cunningham the MVP.
SGA’s eligibility is in jeopardy. Wemby, Luka and Jokic on pace to be disqualified. I wrote about it here: https://t.co/lHpVBq3YQv pic.twitter.com/656iTDHYTy
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) February 23, 2026
That being said, Cunningham’s role in Detroit’s unprecedented two-season turnaround cannot be understated. The former No. 1 pick is averaging 25.5 points and a career-best 9.8 assists per game; he leads the NBA with 478 total assists in 49 games.
The Pistons are 42-13, 5.5 games better than the second-seeded Boston Celtics, and boast the league’s second-ranked defense entering a week that sees them face the Spurs, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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