It can be draining playing for a bad team—as has been the case for Cade Cunningham in his first three seasons in the NBA. But the 23-year-old has stuck with it, remained professional, and is now emerging as one of the league’s best young players.
The combo guard out of Oklahoma State is proving to be a stat-sheet stuffer, posting 23.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks in what has been shaping out to be a career year. Cunningham has also formed a nice partnership with guard Jaden Ivey in what looks like the backcourt of the future in Detroit.
More than the stats, Cunningham is proving this season that he can play winning basketball, as he did when he took over for the Pistons in their early season win against the Los Angeles Lakers and when he scored a game-winner over the Atlanta Hawks and followed it up with a game-sealing block. In short, Cunningham is putting things together in his fourth season in the Association. And at only 23,
the future has never looked brighter for this young guard.
