Jeff Teague has a business of making hot takes ever since retiring from the NBA and transitioning into a podcaster/basketball analyst. His latest one involving Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons, however, is something fans thought his most logical take.
Pistons are lording it over in the Eastern Conference and while it is because of the players making a personal leap with their careers. However, all these players are barely veteran and far from being All-Stars
So, for Teague, it should only be appropriate that Cunningham get the flowers that he deserves – be named number one in the MVP ranking.
“He’s a front-runner for the MVP,” said Teague of Cunningham during an episode of the Club 520 podcast.
“Cuz his team, he has no other star. Everybody got legit stars on they team. He’s the only star. Nobody else on they team can be considered a star. He’s the only guaranteed bonafide star on they team. Jalen Williams, All-Defensive, All-NBA- Shai, Chet. LeBron, Luka Austin Reaves, everybody got considerations.”
“He definitely should be in the Top 1 or 2 of the MVP. For me, No.1 just because he got no help, and I’m not disrespecting they team. I’m just saying as far as stars,” he added.
Fans thought Teague made a good point here. Some even thought that is how Nikola Jokic got his MVP awards.
Teague’s reasoning is spot on, and the exact same reason why Jokic got his first one in 2021.
He was the only star on the roster, like Cade, and was supported with a good cast
— Ballin Out Podcast (@ballinoutpod) December 16, 2025
Tom Hur says Jeff Teague knows ball
— Tom Hur (@KoreaPistonsFan) December 16, 2025
Is Jeff cooking??
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) December 16, 2025
100% as of now https://t.co/jW3QbIZYKx
— Gevon Jackson Jr. ⚾ (@GevonJackson22) December 16, 2025
Cade Cunningham’s support compared to others
Jokic is the only one without an All-Star teammate although Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray are seasoned veterans and are fringed All-Stars.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who won the MVP Award last year, got Jalen Williams beside him. Giannis Antetokounmpo won two of those and it was during Khris Middleton’s All-Star years.
When Joel Embiid won the top individual award in 2023, he did not have any All-Star with him.
If ever Cunningham wins the MVP, it will be the first time an American bagged it since 2019.
The latest Kia MVP ladder puts Cunningham at no. 4, behind Jokic (no. 1), SGA (no. 2), and Doncic (no. 3). The Pistons guard was no. 4 last week.
NBA.com wrote:
Cunningham is coming off a solid last few games, with 29 points and nine assists against the Trail Blazers, then 23-12 against the Bucks, both wins. As long as he and the Pistons are thriving, it’s hard to justify him slipping significantly, or maybe even slightly, on the Ladder.
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