Cade Cunningham makes bold claim and doesn't care if you agree

Cade Cunningham thinks he is the MVP of the league and doesn’t much care who agrees with him. 

Cunningham has been getting more attention for the MVP award this season after helping to lead his team to the All-Star Game title and then immediately eviscerating the Knicks in Madison Square Garden in one of those signature MVP resume games, dropping 42 points and 13 assists. 

The Pistons still aren’t getting much respect from the national media, as that’s not going to happen until they make a run in the playoffs, which is fair, as the second season is where reputations are made. 

But when asked recently about his MVP chances, Cade first demurred and said he didn’t care to speak on it, and he would let others build his case for him, but then he added, “I think I am [MVP]. And if you don’t agree with me, that’s your opinion. “  

Hahaha, so much for not wanting to speak on it. 

This isn’t cockiness from Cade Cunningham, and even if it is, every great player needs a certain amount of it, as you have to believe you are the best if you are going to be the best. 

But this goes beyond belief, as Cunningham has as solid a case as anyone in the league right now. 

Cade Cunningham has an argument for MVP 

This season’s MVP could end up being by default, as there are several top candidates who may not make it to 65 games. MVP frontrunner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can only miss eight more games this season before he is ineligible for the award. 

Perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic can only miss one more game and Giannis has already missed too many games to be eligible, so Cunningham may end up with the award just by being the last man standing. 

But he also has a strong case, as a guy putting up 25 points, 9.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals and just under a block per game on the best team in the NBA. 

Cunningham doesn’t have the shooting efficiency of an SGA or Jokic, but he’s also the superior two-way player who has evolved into a very good defender. I’d also argue that Cunningham has the worst supporting cast without a true second star to flank him even though Jalen Duren did make the All-Star team this season. 

There are also strong arguments for SGA and Jokic, one of whom will probably win the award, but Cunningham’s case is stronger than some are making it out and it is somewhat annoying that he’s not getting more love for MVP considering he’s the best player on the best team, at least for now. 

But Cade believes in himself, which is all that matters, and eventually the national media will catch up to what he already knows.