"I am the best American player in the NBA."

Who is the best American player currently active? Many people’s first choice would be Edwards, who just won the All-Star MVP and is extremely popular. However, some hold a different view.

Cunningham recently spoke on this subject, stating, "I want to be selected for the upcoming Olympic team. I consider myself the best American player." Right after the All-Star game, Cunningham demonstrated this claim through his actions on the court.

Before the All-Star break, the Pistons had already beaten the Knicks twice this season. Thirteen days ago at home, they crushed the Knicks by 38 points, venting all the frustration from last season’s playoff elimination by them. Today at Madison Square Garden, the Pistons and Cunningham came with the same fighting spirit.

Throughout the entire game, the Pistons maintained control, winning all four quarters. In the final quarter, when the Knicks tried to mount a defensive comeback, Cunningham responded with 7 points and 4 assists in that period alone, which was actually his "most average" quarter of the game.

In the first three quarters, Cunningham scored double digits each quarter, starting strong with 14 points and 2 assists in the opening period, showing intense offensive desire from the first whistle. After three quarters, he had 35 points and 9 assists. Overall, he shot 17 of 34 from the field, 5 of 11 from three, only 3 free throws, finishing with 42 points, 8 rebounds, 13 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.

This game was a typical example of Cunningham carrying the entire team solo. Besides him, the player with the next highest attempts was Harris with 4 of 16 shooting, and no one else took more than 10 shots. It’s not that Cunningham is isolated; the Pistons really rely on him to handle a large share of the ball.

Today, with Duren and Stewart still suspended, the only big man left was Paul Reed. Even with this lineup, they dominated a full-strength Knicks team. The Knicks’ biggest advantage is their strong frontcourt, but the Pistons were not intimidated — players like Olynyk, Harris, and Holland are no pushovers.

That’s why the Pistons are currently first in the league, having overtaken the Thunder before the All-Star break. When the Thunder started the season 24-1, no one expected them to lose the top spot, and even fewer predicted the Pistons would be this strong this season.

Last season’s playoffs saw the Knicks eliminate the Pistons 4-2, but two games ended with controversial calls that could have pushed the series to a Game 7. Cunningham’s playoff debut was solid with averages of 25+8+8, but his three-point shooting was only 17.9%, showing he was outplayed by Brunson and the Knicks.

So this season, whenever the Pistons face the Knicks, they bring their full intensity. They have already swept the Knicks three times this season, winning by an average of 28 points. The last visiting player to score 40+10 at Madison Square Garden was LeBron in 2009, and today Cunningham joined that elite list. This basketball shrine has always been a place where stars are crowned.

The Pistons rank second in the league in defensive efficiency this season, leading the league in steals and blocks. As the primary ball-handler, Cunningham differs from Doncic in that his defense is also strong; his 1.5 steals per game place him seventh in the league, truly making him a two-way player. Of course, Doncic’s offensive ceiling remains higher.

So far this season, Cunningham averages 25.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 9.7 assists, shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.5% from three. The biggest criticism of Cunningham used to be his inefficiency and high turnover rate. But you must understand he faces heavy double teams every game, so his shooting efficiency being somewhat low is understandable.

Cunningham’s biggest improvement this season lies in his ball-handling; while setting a career-high in assists per game, he has reduced turnovers to 3.7 per game, down 0.7 from last season. He is genuinely growing steadily, and once his three-point shooting improves, he will surely be in the MVP conversation.

Or you could say Cunningham is already part of the MVP debate, considering the Pistons currently hold the best record in the league. In the latest MVP rankings, Cunningham is fourth, behind only Alexander, Jokic, and Doncic — the highest-ranked American-born player.

The 28-game losing streak feels like yesterday, but now the Pistons are a completely different team. Building on Detroit’s tough basketball tradition, they have created a new, younger team culture. They trust their young leader Cunningham and their defense. That difficult period of struggle has only made them more united.

Now, no one can ignore Detroit basketball anymore.