On a recent episode of The Road Trippin’ Show, former NBA center Kendrick Perkins explained why he now considers Cade Cunningham among the league’s top five players, placing the Detroit Pistons star ahead of Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic. Perkins included Cunningham just behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic in his personal player rankings.
Perkins stated,
“It’s SGA, Giannis, Jokic and guess who’s right there next after them? It’s Cade Cunningham,”
and added,
“Cade Cunningham has just leapfrogged Luka Doncic as far as top five players in the NBA in my eyes. Jaylen Brown is in that conversation right now as well. You know why? Forget the point that he gave them 40 piece off flats, it’s the eight rebounds, it’s the 13 assists, and Cade Cunningham plays both sides of the basketball. Jaylen Brown plays both sides of the basketball.”
Cunningham’s standout performance in the 2025-26 season
At 24 years old, Cade Cunningham is enjoying a career-best season with the Detroit Pistons. Through 48 games, he has averaged 25.7 points, a career-high 9.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game while playing 35 minutes per contest. He is shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 33.5 percent from beyond the arc as he anchors the Pistons to the NBA’s best record at 41-13.
Impressive showing against the New York Knicks boosts Cunningham’s case
Following the All-Star break, Cunningham further demonstrated his elite status with a dominant 126-111 win over the New York Knicks. He recorded 42 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two blocks, and a steal, shooting 17-for-34 overall and 5-for-11 on three-pointers in 38 minutes. This performance reinforced Perkins’s view of Cunningham’s ascending place in the league hierarchy.
Comparing Luka Doncic’s high-level output this season
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic remains one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers and playmakers. At 26, he is averaging a career-high 32.8 points, 8.6 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 42 games. Doncic is shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from three-point range in 35.5 minutes per game, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 33-21 record, which currently places them as the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
The Lakers are scheduled to face the Los Angeles Clippers, who hold a 27-28 record, on Friday night at 7 p.m. PT, in a matchup broadcasted on ESPN.
Why Cunningham’s two-way impact advances his standing
Perkins’s current rankings emphasize a growing belief among analysts that Cunningham’s contributions on both offense and defense, along with Detroit’s outstanding team success, position him as one of the league’s premier players. While Doncic’s offensive brilliance is undeniable, Cunningham’s balanced game and effectiveness on both ends of the court have elevated his standing within the ongoing top-five conversation in the NBA.
Kendrick Perkins says Cade Cunningham has ‘leapfrogged’ Luka Doncic in his top 5 players list 😳
“It’s SGA, Giannis, Jokic and guess who’s right there next after them? Cade Cunningham… He plays both sides of the basketball.”
(via @RoadTrippinShow) pic.twitter.com/A5VtWYNxgY
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 20, 2026
