DeMarcus Cousins shared his thoughts on the 2025-26 MVP race on Run It Back Friday, naming Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham first and Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown second. “First is Cade Cunningham, then it’s Jaylen Brown, then it’s everybody else,” Cousins stated.
Cousins’ assessment highlights Detroit Pistons star, who leads the Eastern Conference with a 40-13 record. The 24-year-old guard averages 25.7 points and 9.7 assists per game, shooting 47.2% from the field and 42.4% from three, ranking among the league’s most efficient high-usage players.
Following Cunningham, Cousins pointed to Brown, who is averaging 29.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 48.4% from the field. Boston holds a 35-19 record, positioning the Celtics as the second seed in the East.
While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is second in scoring with 31.8 points per game and owns the NBA’s best record at 42-14, Cousins’ perspective emphasizes Eastern Conference candidates in the MVP conversation. Gilgeous-Alexander received 78 first-place votes in ESPN’s recent MVP straw poll, ahead of Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
Jokic continues to deliver historically efficient production, averaging 28.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 10.6 assists, including 20 triple-doubles in 40 games. Denver’s 35-20 record ranks third in the West, behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio.
Cousins’ comments reflect a focus on player impact relative to team success, a traditional factor in MVP voting. Detroit’s dominance in the East strengthens Cunningham’s case, while Brown’s consistent scoring and the Celtics’ standing make him a credible contender.
