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Amid Adversity, Cade Cunningham Shines in Pistons Season Rewind

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Amid Adversity, Cade Cunningham Shines in Pistons Season Rewind

The most certain thing about the 2024-25 Pistons is that Cade Cunningham will be at the heart of their planning. Cunningham bounced back from the season-ending shin surgery that limited him to 12 games in his second year to fulfill the promise he brought to Detroit as the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft. He enters his fourth season on the cusp of All-Star consideration.

A revolving cast of teammates, forced by injury and experimentation, created less-than-ideal conditions. However, Cunningham thrived despite the adversity, including inconsistent 3-point shooting around him. This played a significant role in the most obvious flaw in Cunningham’s resume: turnovers.

Leadership and Accountability

Cade Cunningham’s maturity and leadership were evident as he never allowed his frustration to spill over or cause him to point fingers. Instead, he shouldered the blame and did not dodge accountability. When the season ended, he cited his intent to do more over the off-season to become a more efficient caretaker.

Asked what he intended to focus on over the summer, Cunningham answered, “Definitely my ballhandling. My conditioning, for sure. I would say those are probably my two top priorities. Obviously, my jump shot, my mid-range, finishing at the rim, all those things are going to get worked on, but my conditioning and my ballhandling are probably my top two things I’m going to work on.”

2023-24 Season Highlights

Profile: 6-foot-6 guard, 22 years old, 3 NBA seasons
Status: Entering the final season of his four-year rookie scale contract, he is eligible for a four-year contract extension this summer.

2023-24 Stats: 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 33.5 minutes per game over 62 games, shooting .449 overall and .355 from the 3-point arc on 5.4 attempts per game.

Early Years and Background

Cunningham grew up near Dallas in Arlington, Texas, and spent his first two seasons of high school there before playing his final two years at Montverde Academy. Among his teammates were three others who would become first-round picks in the 2021 draft. Cunningham committed to Oklahoma State, where his brother, Cannon, served as an assistant coach. Cunningham’s lone college season saw him named first-team All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year as a freshman.

The Season That Was

Cunningham was cleared for full basketball activity in time to have a productive off-season, earning an invitation to USA Basketball’s summer camp. Cade Cunningham was at the heart of the Pistons’ 2-1 start to the season when injuries struck. He was playing at an All-Star level in December and January before a left knee contusion forced him to miss the next eight games. Cunningham averaged 33.7 points and 5.7 assists over his final three games. In the 10 games before the January knee injury, Cunningham averaged 28.7 points and 8.1 assists.

Cunningham managed to navigate challenges and firmly establish himself as one of the league’s brightest young stars. The next step for him will be to become less turnover-prone, though the burden he was asked to shoulder as a primary playmaker can’t be overstated. Cunningham made notable strides as a 3-point shooter, reworking his perimeter shot during his shin rehabilitation. The Pistons are likely to undergo significant roster changes, but their decision-making will be streamlined by the certainty that Cunningham is the player around whom their options will be defined.

Maya Rodriguez
Greetings, fellow basketball aficionados! I'm Maya Rodriguez, a storyteller at heart, weaving tales of the game I love. Specializing in women's basketball, I'm on a mission to shine a spotlight on the incredible narratives often overlooked. Through my articles, I not only break down scores and stats but also share the inspiring journeys of female athletes. Join me in celebrating the resilience, skill, and passion that define women's basketball – because every hoop deserves its heroine.

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