Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham. David Richard-Imagn Images

Cade Cunningham gets called out by former teammate after MVP buzz

By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Mar 4, 2026 8:54 AM ET

The Cleveland Cavaliers picked up a 113-109 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night, but the final score was not what had people talking afterward.

During the game, a courtside mic caught Dennis Schroder chirping at Cade Cunningham, and the exchange quickly made the rounds online.

The two were teammates last season and went through a playoff run together, but it sounds like they have not stayed in close touch.

In the video posted by the NBA, Schroder made that pretty clear with what he said during the game.

"Don't talk to me now. I tried to call you, you didn't answer the phone," Schroder said. "You got MVP chants, now you not answering the phone no more, huh? I got you though."

"You got MVP chants, now you're not answering the phone no more."

Dennis Schröder to his former teammate Cade Cunningham pic.twitter.com/6jfjviKP46
— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2026

It was all said in good fun, and neither player seemed bothered by it. Still, the comment struck a chord with fans watching from home.

Cunningham’s rise leads to Schroder moment

Schroder has been around the league long enough to have crossed paths with just about everyone. Since being drafted in 2013, he is suited up for eleven different teams and usually left on good terms.

He finished with 15 points in the win, but his box score numbers were not what stood out. The moment with Cunningham said more than any stat line could.

Not long ago, the Pistons were stuck near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Now they are sitting at the top, and Cunningham is the biggest reason why.

He's averaging 25.2 points per game this season and playing at a level that has completely shifted expectations in Detroit. With that kind of success comes a lot more attention, though, and staying connected with everyone from the past is not as easy as it used to be.

Whether Cunningham actually ghosted Schroder or just got too busy to keep up is anyone's guess. Either way, it was a harmless exchange between two guys who used to share a locker room.

Yagya Bhargava

Yagya Bhargava began his professional journey as a chef, but his passion for sports eventually led him into sports journalism. He started writing in 2022 and has since published more than 5,000 articles covering the NFL and NBA. Along the way, he’s worked with outlets like The Cold Wire, Sportskeeda, The SportsRush, and The Big Lead

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