Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has climbed into the top five of the latest Kia MVP Ladder, fueled by his strong performances and the team's 11-game win streak. The rankings highlight Nikola Jokić holding the top spot amid impressive triple-doubles. Other notable shifts include Luka Dončić rising to third with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Kia MVP Ladder for the week of November 21, 2025, showcases early-season standouts in the NBA. Cade Cunningham, last week's No. 6, moves up to fifth, marking a significant milestone for a Pistons player. Detroit leads the Eastern Conference during an 11-game winning streak, with Cunningham averaging 27.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game. He recorded a 46-point performance against the Washington Wizards and notched 18 assists in a win over the Dallas Mavericks. Cunningham ranks second league-wide in assists, trailing only Nikola Jokić.
At the top, Jokić of the Denver Nuggets remains No. 1, posting 29.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 11.1 assists, including nine triple-doubles in 14 games despite a wrist injury. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander holds second for the Oklahoma City Thunder with 32 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, having sat out nine fourth quarters in 16 games while staying among scoring leaders.
Luka Dončić jumps to third with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 34.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 9 assists, leading the league in scoring and adding eight double-doubles. He has shown defensive improvement with multiple multi-steal games. Giannis Antetokounmpo slips to fourth for the Milwaukee Bucks, with 31.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists before a groin strain sidelined him.
The next five include Victor Wembanyama at sixth for the San Antonio Spurs, Jalen Johnson seventh for the Atlanta Hawks—who said, “Hard work takes you places you can’t imagine and gives you opportunities you never could’ve seen … but there’s a lot more work to do”—Tyrese Maxey eighth for the Philadelphia 76ers, Alperen Şengün ninth for the Houston Rockets, and Donovan Mitchell tenth for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Additional mentions go to Stephen Curry, Jalen Duren, Norman Powell, Julius Randle, and Austin Reaves.
An upcoming matchup features Jokić against Şengün on Friday in Houston, where the two have faced off 10 times previously.