Rajon Rondo was one of the best pure point guards in the league at the height of his career. His playmaking was his biggest strength. Rondo led the league in assists three times, and he also had a stretch of averaging 11+ assists in three consecutive years. Seeing as the game has changed and point guards are more like scorers, the former champion believes he can help some players take their game to the next level. For example, he talked about Cade Cunningham and his improvement, how he can mold him into a true point guard.
Rajon Rondo Sees a Point God in an All-Star Player, But With Help
Throughout his career, Rondo has been praised for his incredible IQ and the way he sees the game. The two-time NBA champion is not shy about sharing his knowledge with the next generation of point guards. Speaking on the Run It Back podcast about true point guards in today’s game, he mentioned one All-Star specifically. He said,
“If I can get Cade to understand how to manage the game, because he is a three-level scorer, he can manipulate the game on both ends of the floor. For me, if I get my hands on Cade Cunningham, JB has done a hell of a job, but I think he can become that one type of point guard. It’s only a couple of tweaks, and then it’s about the personnel. If he has to be the man, he has to get 30, then that is what he has to do. But if he had maybe two more superstars, he wouldn’t have to manage and get 30 every night.”
Imagine Cade’s bag with Rondo’s brain
That duo could break the NBA… somebody make it happen this summer
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— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) July 28, 2025
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Last season was Cunningham’s fourth in the league. He took a major leap, upping his scoring from 22.7 to 26.1 points per game. He made the All-Star team for the first time, finished seventh in MVP voting, and made the All-NBA third team. But Rondo believes Cade can be so much more. And if the Detroit Pistons ever get more stars to play with Cunningham, Rondo sees the potential for a fit and having Cunningham slide to the true point guard position.
How Can the Pistons Build a Contender Around Cade?
Before last season, the Pistons hadn’t made the playoffs since the 2018-19 season. They had 17 and 14 wins in 2022-23 and 2023-24 respectively.. Historically, the Pistons haven’t had success in luring free agents to play for them. Their most significant free agent signing of all-time was Chauncey Billups back in 2002. But he was not the star he became when they signed him. They have gotten most of their top-notch players through trades.
With that in mind, while they can have significant cap space next summer, it is more likely that they will trade for a potential star. Right now, Cunningham is a true star. But they also have homegrown talent that can turn into a star, like Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson .
Speaking of trades, they have all of their first-round picks going forward, and several second-round picks from other teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks, the Miami Heat, the New York Knicks, the Golden State Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Dallas Mavericks. With such assets, they can trade for a veteran star who would love to play alongside Cunningham. And that can be the next step for the team to improve and contend .
What is the Next Improvement for Cade Cunningham?
Since he joined the league, Cunningham has improved his scoring and assists in every season. During his first season, he averaged 17.4 points and 5.6 assists. Last season, he averaged 26.1 points and 9.1 assists.
The next step for his improvement would be to find a way to get guys involved earlier in the shot clock. Cade’s style is all about a controlled approach and strong passing ability. He can slow the game down when needed and make smart decisions. Cunningham uses his size and handle effectively to get to his spots.
One area of improvement is his finishing ability and the ability to draw fouls. Getting to the rim is something Rondo can help him with. With his size and handle, Cunningham can break down defenses. While he is a good finisher, there is still room for improvement. For example, last season, he averaged 5+ free throws per game for the first time.
The more Cade drives to the basket, the more the game will open up for him. And that is when he can dish to open teammates and find great looks for them.
Photo credit: © David Butler II-Imagn Images
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