Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff used his pre-game press conference Friday to explain why he believes Cade Cunningham deserves serious consideration for the Most Valuable Player award, pointing to both his individual production and overall impact on Detroit’s success.
“I wish I could do it [state Cade’s case MVP] with a better, stronger voice … I mean, he deserves it,” Bickerstaff said. “Right now, again, if the season were to end today, the best player on the team with the best win percentage, to me, is the guy that deserves to be the MVP.
“What he does for us on both ends of the floor; he doesn’t take nights, or times, or possessions off defensively. We’ll put him on the other team’s best perimeter player, and he’ll go down on the offensive end and score his 25 points but create for his teammates.
“He’s second in the league in assists and makes his teammates better also. And, then the game’s on the line, you can give him the ball, and he’s one of the best clutch players we have in this league. So, I’m hard pressed to find a better example or statement of who the MVP should be.”
Cunningham is putting together a standout season, averaging 25.4 points along with a career-high 9.8 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.
Pistons Notes: Cunningham, Duren, Sasser, Huerter, Stewart, Jenkins https://t.co/NaoP3v4kBq pic.twitter.com/cM22Mw3kQF
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 28, 2026
