Cade Cunningham has performed at an MVP level this season, routinely stuffing the stat sheet for the surging Detroit Pistons.
The former No. 1 pick is averaging 26.7 points, 9.7 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game, putting him in a prime position for his second career All-Star selection.
During an appearance on FanDuel’s NBA Flagship show Run It Back, former Kings star DeMarcus Cousins crowned Cunningham as the best guard in the Eastern Conference.
“You can’t ignore what Cade is doing,” Cousins said. “Outside of Shai, this is the best guard in the league to me.”
Boogie Cousins loves the Pistons point guard 👍
@MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23Chandler Parsons, a fellow FanDuel NBA analyst, added on to explain what makes Cunningham such a special talent:
“He’s doing everything other [elite] guards do, but he’s bigger and defends better.”
Cade Cunningham Ranks Among NBA’s Elite Guards
GettyCade Cunningham is Top Ten in All-Star votes among guards
Cunningham, 24, has quickly established himself as a household name.
A three-level scorer with a deep offensive bag, Cunningham is one of the most exciting floor generals in the league.
He facilitates the offense just as well as he scores, making him a tough task for opposing defenses.
Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey are often labeled the best point guards in the East, but Cunningham possesses a distinct advantage over them both: defense.
Vote Cade → t.co/BUOQSlvsnO
While Brunson and Maxey can score in bunches at will, their lack of size makes them defensive liabilities.
Cunningham, listed at 6-foot-6, does not suffer from this issue. In fact, the All-Star guard is (statistically) one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.
The Texas-born guard ranks second among all NBA players who have defended at least 450 field goal attempts this season with a 42.6 Defended Field Goal percentage.
As Cousins pointed out, Cunningham can score and initiate the offense as well as other elite guards, but they cannot defend or rebound as well as he can.
The Pistons guard is averaging career-highs in steals (1.5) and blocks (0.8) per game.
“He’s bought into the idea that defense is gonna carry us,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of Cunningham. “He goes out and gives it his best every single night.”
Cade Cunningham Deserves MVP Consideration
GettyCade Cunningham is enjoying a career year in Detroit
Entering the season, few projected the Pistons to pace the Eastern Conference in wins.
So far, they’ve done just that, and Cunningham’s stellar play is a big reason why.
One of the best two-way players in the league, Cunningham deserves to be in the mix for the MVP award.
“I’m surprised more people are not speaking about Cade,” said Reggie Miller. “For those of you who are late to the party, overall No.1 pick out of Oklahoma State, and for his size at 6’5″, 6’6″ being a point guard, controls the whole action, and it helps now that Jalen Duren has kind of grown into being that force down low for them. They have a great one-two connection and chemistry between those two guys. He plays defense.”
Cunningham, the 2021 Rookie of the Year, has blossomed into a star and helped revitalize a winning culture in Detroit.
Last season, after snapping the Pistons’ lengthy playoff drought, Cunningham not only earned his first All-Star selection, but he was also named to the All-NBA Third team and finished seventh in the MVP race.
Should he continue his torrid pace, the talented guard could finish the season as an MVP finalist.
DeMarcus Cousins Crowns Pistons Star as the Best Guard in the East