The two most recent MVP winners may still headline this year’s race, but two new names from the East have worked their way firmly into it.

For the first time in their careers, Cade Cunningham and Jaylen Brown are serious MVP candidates. The case for both is strengthened by one common factor: winning.

With the way that he plays, it is easy to forget that Cunningham is still just 24 years old. The first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft is now in his fifth season and is already a two-time All-Star, with both appearances coming over the last two years. Statistically, nothing much has changed for him year-on-year–he is averaging 25.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 9.8 assists–but what’s compelling is that he has guided the Detroit Pistons to a surprising 44–14 record that is currently the best in the league.

Detroit’s surge has not happened by accident and Cunningham’s fingerprints are all over it. He dictates their tempo on offense, can get to his spots whenever he wants to, and plays with the poise of a tenured veteran. 

Following the All-Star break, he has only made his case to win the MVP stronger. He had 42 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists in a road win over the New York Knicks immediately after the All-Star break then had a 29-point, 13-assist outing in a statement victory over the West-leading Thunder a week later. 

Meanwhile, Brown’s candidacy carries a different narrative.

At 29 years old, the 10-year veteran and five-time All-Star has already built a decorated résumé, including the 2024 NBA Finals MVP. This season, however, has required something different from him. The Boston Celtics are 39–20 and sit second in the standings despite playing without their usual first option, Jayson Tatum, and the loss of other key contributors from last year’s team. Brown is now solely in the spotlight and has not shied away.

Brown does not have another All-Star beside him, yet Boston remains very much in contention. He tied his career-high with a 50-point game in a win over the LA Clippers last January and already has four other 40-point games this season. Last November, he flashed his two-way acumen with a historic statline, becoming the first Celtic in franchise history to record 41 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and five steals in a single game.

The race this year is a deep one though. The last two MVPs, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić , have strong cases once again, and other potential first time winners such as Victor Wembanyama and Luka Dončić are pushing hard.

Regardless of the outcome, this year feels like a pivotal change in direction for Cunningham and Brown though. They are no longer waiting for recognition and are breaking into the league’s tier of elite stars. If the MVP award is meant to reflect who has done the most for his team, both have made it clear that they belong in the conversation.