The Athletic NBA Daily – "Is Cade Cunningham the MVP?"

Date: February 20, 2026
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Esfandiar Baraheni ("S"), James Edwards

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the night’s biggest NBA stories: the Clippers’ surprising win over the Nuggets, Kevin Durant’s continued brilliance with the Rockets, and an in-depth conversation with James Edwards focusing on the Knicks’ ongoing issues and the Pistons’ rise behind MVP candidate Cade Cunningham. The hosts scrutinize key games, player performances, and looming questions for several top teams, particularly debating whether Cade Cunningham has staked his claim as this season’s NBA MVP.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Clippers Upset Nuggets at the Intuit Dome

Segment Start: [02:42]

• Context: The Clippers, post-trade deadline and without James Harden/Zubac, snatch a dramatic win from the reigning champion Nuggets, 115–114.
• Critical Moment: Jamal Murray, an 88% FT shooter, misses a potential game-tying free throw with 0.9 seconds left – a repeat of a recent close loss.
  • Quote: "Once again, it's Jamal Murray at the free throw line, man, with a chance to tie the game. And he misses what would have been the game-tying free throw with 0.9 seconds left..." — Dave DuFour [03:22]
• Benedict Mathurin’s Impact:
  • Makes a Clipper home debut with 38 off the bench, including 12/13 FTs.
  • Hosts compare his scoring potential to a “lower budget Norm Powell.”
  • Quote: “His Clipper home debut puts up 38 points off the bench... This is sort of the thing that they brought him in for.” — Dave DuFour [05:51]
• Nuggets Defensive Woes:
  • Jokic’s defensive engagement in question: “He’s the greatest offensive player maybe ever, but... it looks like he’s just disinterested.” — Dave DuFour [07:58]
  • Injuries (missing Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Peyton Watson) exacerbate issues; concern over 24th-ranked team defense.
  • Quote: "It's basically unheard of for a team with that poor of a defense to win a championship." — Host 1 [09:05]

2. Kevin Durant’s Vintage Night for the Rockets

Segment Start: [09:38]

• Game Recap: Rockets edge the Hornets 105–101, thanks to KD’s clutch heroics.
• Kevin Durant’s Dominance:
  • Drops 35 points, secures the last 10 for Houston.
  • Delivers game-clinching shot and a “pretty impressive two-way season” at 37.
  • Notable defensive stats: 3 blocks, 1 steal in the first quarter.
  • Hosts laud his rim protection and key role compensating for Alperen Sengun’s defensive struggles.
  • Quote: “He’s having a pretty impressive two-way season at 37 years old. I don’t know that we’ve ever seen anyone defend the way that he has actually at his age...” — Dave DuFour [10:48]
• Rockets’ Identity:
  • Despite KD, hosts remain skeptical: “It’s too hard for them, right? Every single thing is too hard for them.” — Dave DeFore [12:31]
  • However, acknowledge they’re a dangerous playoff team because KD “can be the best player still somehow, which is crazy.” [12:40]

3. Knicks vs. Pistons — State of Two Franchises

Segment Start: [14:21]

• Game Recap: Pistons hand Knicks another eye-opening loss, missing two starters.
• Knicks’ Dilemma:
  • “They need to shake things up... The feng shui, the furniture needed to be changed in the group.” — James Edwards [15:13]
  • Recent trade deadline inaction criticized, specifically questioning the fit and utilization of Karl-Anthony Towns (Cat).
  • Towns not a consistent offensive threat; struggles from 3, overall questionable fit in Mike Brown’s system.
    • Quote: “You just cannot have Karl Anthony Towns just not be a threat offensively.” — James Edwards [15:47]
  • Defensive liability of pairing Jalen Brunson and Cat exploited by opponents; Knicks’ elite wing defenders stretched thin.
  • Quote: “You’re constantly playing this uphill battle... they can’t solve all their defensive problems. Right. And OG can only do so much.” — Host 1 [17:33]
  • Hypothetical: Would Knicks front office undo the Cat/Julius Randle trade?
    • “I think they would... All the things that have come with it, it hasn't always looked great on the court.” — James Edwards [20:34]
• Pistons’ Dominance:
  • Deep and resilient; win with Paul Reed starting, missing two top players.
  • “They're the best team in the East. People keep trying to find a reason to say they're not... there's nothing to say.” — James Edwards [17:00]
  • Defensive adaptability and ability to “drag you into the mud” lauded.

4. Is Cade Cunningham the MVP?

Segment Start: [21:41]

• Cade’s Recent Performance:
  • Notches 42/13/8/2/1 (pts/ast/reb/blk/stl) with 5 triples vs. the Knicks.
  • Steps up against direct competition and in the clutch, especially without Jalen Duren.
• MVP Arguments:
  • Hosts and Edwards debate: If the Pistons finish atop the NBA, how is Cade not MVP?
    • Quote: “If the Pistons finish with the best record in the NBA, I don't see how Cade's not the mvp.” — James Edwards [22:57]
  • Context: With Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander close to postseason awards game limits, the race is wide open.
  • Pistons’ supporting cast considered subpar compared to other MVP candidates’ teams.
    • “His second-best player is a traditional center and his third best player might be Isaiah Stewart... we're not talking about 30, 40 point-per-game scorers.” — James Edwards [23:55]
• Cade’s ‘Best American’ Claim:
  • “He thinks he's the best American in the world, basketball wise. I feel like there's at the Edwards, Kawhi Leonard, Steph Curry obviously have very, very good claims. Right now it feels like Cade has a very good claim too.” — Host 1 [24:48]
  • Anecdote: Pistons front office predicted Cade would be “the first American born MVP” upon drafting him. [25:08]
• Playoff Weaknesses:
  • If Pistons struggle, it’s likely due to unreliable 3-point shooting or aggressive blitzing on Cade with insufficient secondary playmaking.
    • Quote: “There's a world where they go completely cold from three in a whole series... Maybe you see teams just deciding to blitz Cade, which they're going to do, and they're just not able... just that lack of secondary playmaker.” — James Edwards [26:15–26:50]
• Knicks’ Postseason Outlook:
  • Offense falters once their system is disrupted; defense not as reliable against “bigger ball handlers,” with Cade as a prime example. [27:14–28:46]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jamal Murray’s struggles:
  “This is a guy who’s like an 88% free throw shooter... Just bizarre for him to have multiple opportunities like this to brick and choke a game.” — Host 1 [04:52]

• On Benedict Mathurin:
  “Matherin was a guy who was on a finals team for the Pacers last year. He had some huge moments in the playoffs for them... Once Garland comes back, the Clippers might be cooking with something.” — Host 1 [06:26, 07:23]

• On KD’s defense:
  “I don't know that we've ever seen anyone defend the way that he has actually at his age... His responsibility is insane on these Rockets.” — Dave DuFour [10:48, 11:20]

• On the Knicks' star duo:
  “It's not that Cat's not a good player, it's that it's very clear that the system plus where he's at right now in his career, it's just not working. So why try to force a round peg into a square hole?” — James Edwards [19:07]

• On Cade’s MVP case and Pistons’ lack of help:
  “Everybody keeps saying Cade Needs help... but they're the number one team in the NBA... For all the reasons we're trying to find out why the Pistons aren't the best team, it kind of to me also proves Cade's point as why he's the MVP.” — James Edwards [23:37–24:25]

• On the Knicks' big trade:
  “I think they would [redo the Cat trade]... All the things that have come with it, obviously it hasn’t always looked great on the court.” — James Edwards [20:34]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:42] – Clippers upset Nuggets; Jamal Murray’s late miss
• [05:51] – Benedict Mathurin’s breakout performance
• [07:58] – Denver’s defensive woes and Jokic’s playoff readiness
• [09:38] – Kevin Durant lifts Rockets, aging gracefully on defense
• [14:21] – Knicks vs. Pistons: Deadline regrets, Cat’s struggles
• [17:00] – Pistons’ rise to best in the East
• [19:07] – Why the Knicks/Cat fit just isn’t working
• [21:41] – Cade Cunningham as MVP? Full Pistons-Knicks context
• [24:48] – “Best American” debate; Cade’s destiny as MVP
• [26:15] – How could Detroit fall in the playoffs?
• [27:14] – Knicks’ ongoing offensive and defensive identity dilemmas

Summary Takeaways

• The Clippers’ “post-Harden” team identity looks stronger than expected thanks to Mathurin’s arrival, while the Nuggets’ porous defense raises flags for playoff time.
• Kevin Durant is quietly amassing a DPOY-lite campaign, vital for a flawed but competitive Rockets team.
• The Knicks are at a crossroads: a star duo (Brunson/Cat) with fit and defensive issues may require revisiting their bold trades, while the Pistons cement themselves as elite.
• Cade Cunningham’s MVP credentials are now legitimate and urgent—especially if the Pistons retain the NBA’s best record—despite the “not enough help” narrative.
• Postseason intrigue surrounds whether the Pistons’ defense and Cade’s brilliance can offset shooting droughts, and whether the Knicks’ system and stars can adapt under pressure.

Read James Edwards at The Athletic for more Pistons and NBA insights.