Even the best NBA players can’t prevent a bad team from spiraling down.
That has been the case with Cade Cunningham this season.
The former No. 1 pick has put up All-Star-caliber numbers, yet his team’s historically poor season has made him go unnoticed.
At least, that’s how NBA analyst James L. Edwards seems to think.
Recently, he wrote a piece for The Athletic detailing Cunningham’s impressive season, which is only more impressive if you consider the context.
“The Pistons haven’t always had adequate spacing around Cunningham. Yet, he continues to get better, even if no one is paying attention,” Edwards said.
Cade Cunningham is having one of the better seasons no one is talking about.
His numbers in a vacuum are good. Factor in that he is learning to play with a metal rod in his leg and is doing it in Detroit?
It's borderline impressive.
✍️ @JLEdwardsIIIhttps://t.co/2BKxtL8CFX pic.twitter.com/yAXqiEq6Jk
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) February 25, 2024
He’s coming off a season-ending injury and is playing on arguably the worst team we’ve seen in years.
Still, despite their losing record, the Detroit Pistons have been more competitive than people give them credit for, and most of that has had to do with Cunningham’s production.
The Pistons have the third-worst net rating in the league, but they’re not getting blown out like, say, the Washington Wizards, and they’ve been on the wrong end of some heartbreaking losses.
Cunningham has excelled in his third season in the league — which is essentially his sophomore year if you consider that he only played 12 games last season.
He’s averaging 22.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.8 three-pointers per game on 45% from the floor, filling up the stat sheet and doing what’s human and inhumanly possible to try and keep his team afloat.
The Pistons will have another top-five pick in the upcoming NBA Draft to keep building their team around, but there have been some questions about Monty Williams being the right coach to lead them to their next stage.
Whatever the case, one thing’s for sure, whoever they pick needs to be thinking of the fit around their franchise player.
NEXT: Tyrese Haliburton Took Issue With 1 NBA Team Not Drafting Him