As the Detroit Pistons inch closer to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 18 years, Cade Cunningham is close to solidifying a legacy-altering reputation. Already recognized as an arguably elite offensive player, Cunningham is proving to be a tremendous defender, as well.
Though Pistons fans have long known this about Cunningham, his success during the 2026 Playoffs has posed the question: Is he the best two-way perimeter player in the NBA?
The list of players who have earned that reputation is nothing short of remarkable. Though it's an entirely subjective conversation, the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kawhi Leonard have occupied that lane and earned critical acclaim for their efforts.
That includes MVP awards for Bryant, James, and Jordan, with Leonard likely to have appeared in such discussions if not for his injuries.
Though it's too soon to compare Cunningham to those current and future Hall of Famers, he's proving to be a force of nature on both ends of the floor in 2026. He's an elite facilitator, dynamic scoring threat, and committed defender whose ability to impact winning never truly relies on any one phase of the game.
If Cunningham can sustain this quality of play, his emergence as the NBA's premier two-way player could result in MVP recognition that he's already come close to receiving.
Cade Cunningham could become an MVP if he solidifies status as elite two-way player
Cunningham is already a decorated player as a two-time All-Star and soon-to-be two-time All-NBA honoree who finished seventh in MVP voting in 2024-25. He was even better in 2025-26, with many surmising that he could've been a finalist for MVP if not for a late-season injury.
Despite the injury that plagued him, Cunningham finished the 2025-26 regular season with superstar averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game.
In the process, Cunningham joined Nikola Jokic as the only players in the NBA to average at least 20.0 points and 9.0 assists per game in 2025-26. What makes Cunningham's success so significant, however, is that he didn't compromise his defensive consistency for offensive success.
That's been on firm display during the playoffs, as Cunningham has dominated the fourth quarter of close games and thrived defensively.
The Pistons held the Cavs to 2 makes in the final 5 minutes tonight and 3 makes in the final 5 in Game 1.
— Jacob Richman (@JacobHRichman) May 8, 2026
Cade Cunningham on the team’s defensive effort down the stretch:
“That side of the ball wins us games. That’s our identity and we want to impose ourselves…” pic.twitter.com/mCqQOSscwY
Offensively, Cunningham leads all players in points per fourth quarter during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Defensively, he's matched up against everyone from James Harden to Paolo Banchero, forcing turnovers and misses, and making the right rotations to keep the defense intact.
If Cunningham is able to avoid a regression as the postseason progresses and the Pistons continue winning games, he may very well enter the 2026-27 season recognized as the best two-way perimeter player in the NBA.
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