Nikola Jokić and Cade Cunningham have been named the NBA’s Players of the Month for October and November, and if you’ve been paying attention to the early-season storylines, this recognition feels more like confirmation than surprise.
Let’s start out West, where Jokić is doing what Jokić does-only somehow, he’s doing it even better. The Nuggets big man claimed his ninth Player of the Month award with a blistering start to his 11th NBA season.
He’s averaging a triple-double-28.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game-while leading Denver to a 14-5 record through the first six weeks. That’s not just MVP-level production; that’s historic efficiency wrapped in nightly dominance.
And the numbers only tell part of the story. Jokić is shooting a ridiculous 63.7% from the field and knocking down 45.3% of his threes.
For a 7-footer who orchestrates the offense like a point guard, those shooting splits are absurd. He’s not just scoring-he’s scoring smart, and he’s doing it while keeping the Nuggets humming as one of the best teams in the league.
Jokić beat out a loaded group of Western Conference contenders for the honor. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to look like a legit MVP candidate in OKC, Luka Dončić is putting up monster numbers in L.A., and James Harden, Alperen Şengün, Deni Avdija, Austin Reaves, and Anthony Edwards were all in the mix. But Jokić’s blend of volume, efficiency, and winning impact made this a clear-cut decision.
Over in the East, Cade Cunningham is making it clear that he’s arrived-and he’s not waiting around for anyone to notice.
Cunningham just earned his first career Player of the Month award, and it comes on the heels of a stunning start for the Pistons. Detroit, a team many saw as a fringe playoff hopeful, has rocketed out of the gate with a 16-4 record, good enough to sit atop the Eastern Conference standings at the end of November.
That’s not a typo. The Pistons are leading the East, and Cunningham is the engine behind it all.
Through 17 games, the third-year guard is averaging 28.8 points, 9.4 assists, and 6.4 rebounds in 36.8 minutes per night. He’s shooting 45.6% from the field and converting 81.5% from the line, showing improved efficiency to go with his already polished all-around game.
He’s controlling tempo, creating for teammates, and scoring at all three levels. Most importantly, he’s leading-and the Pistons are winning because of it.
The Eastern Conference had no shortage of worthy candidates either. Scottie Barnes continues to take a leap in Toronto, Jaylen Brown is doing Jaylen Brown things in Boston, and Tyrese Maxey has been electric for the Sixers.
Donovan Mitchell, Franz Wagner, Norman Powell, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Giddey, and Jalen Johnson were all in the conversation. But this month belonged to Cunningham.
For Jokić, this is more of the same-an elite player continuing to raise the bar. For Cunningham, it’s a breakthrough moment, the kind of stretch that signals a young star turning the corner into something more. Two different paths, one shared spotlight.
And if the first six weeks are any indication, both of these guys are just getting started.