The Detroit Pistons are smack-dab in the middle of a franchise rebirth , if there ever was one, and it’s picking up steam at the right time. When the Pistons drafted Cade Cunningham , who made his first all-star appearance this season, it was the best thing to happen to them since their championship run in 2008. It seems like forever ago that Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace led the recently moribund franchise to that title, and that’s because it really was forever ago. Since then, Detroit has been a moribund franchise—irrelevant and uncompetitive—until now. Cunningham is the leading element in the changing of the winds in the Motor City. That said, he wants to be known for being far more significant than what he has achieved thus far, far more significant.
Cade Cunningham Desires Recognition Beyond All-Star Selections
Detroit Pistons Rising All-Star Cade Cunningham Believes He’s ‘On His Way’ to Being the Best Player In the World
Believe it or not, Cunningham was at one point considered a possible bust after being drafted in 2021. He came into his rookie season with great expectations, and at least statistically speaking, he didn’t disappoint. After his first season, Cunningham suffered a significant injury that knocked him out of the majority of the 2022-23 season. He played in just 12 games. The following year, he bounced back, playing 62 games and averaging a career-high 22.7 PPG. Unfortunately, the Pistons were still moribund and experienced arguably their worst season in franchise history. Questions around Cunningham’s abilities to take a franchise upon his back and change it for the better surfaced. As far as everyone was concerned, as great a gifting and talent Cunningham possessed, Detroit continued to flounder in the basement of the East.
Suffice it to say that things are different now. Cunningham has the Pistons on track to being a prominent and formidable opponent in the Eastern Conference for years to come. A coaching change involving bringing J.B. Bickerstaff in has helped instrumentally, but Cunningham is the driving force. He wants more than all-star appearances and winning seasons above .500, though. Yes, he wants to be recognized for something more ambitious, and he spoke about it with Eric Woodyard in a recent ESPN feature .
“I think I can be the best basketball player in the world. I think I’m on my way, I want people to understand that and that’s what I’m working to show people every time I play.”
Part of the New Crop
With LeBron James at the point in his career where he can now see over the fence to the other side—Steph Curry and Kevin Durant joining him—a new crop of NBA superstars is breaking through. Cunningham is unquestionably one of them, along with several others. For now, the “best player in the world” title resides within Nikola Jokić ‘s embodiment. Before Cunningham has a chance at that title, many will say Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Anthony Edwards have a closer, more legitimate claim. Cunningham doesn’t appear bothered by anything, though. He believes he has the potential to hold the same claim SGA and Antman will eventually have.
As he sees it, he’s on his way, and frankly, he and the Pistons are presenting a strong case. All Cunningham needs is true playoff success over the course of the next few years. It’s why Jokić holds the claim of the world’s best player over Gilgeous-Alexander and Edwards—playoff success and a title to go with his remarkably unstoppable game. A new crop is rising in the league, and Cunningham is a part of it. If he wants to be seen as the best, he’ll have to win like the best. The Pistons are only getting started, so it will all be in due time.
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