Motor Cade: Cade Cunningham Continues to Show He’s on Track to Be One of the NBA’s Next Superstars

Detroit’s energy comes alive as the Pistons celebrates a big play.

The Detroit Pistons have the best record in the East — and in a conference that feels wide open, they’re showing promise. Winners of seven straight, this young group that pushed the Knicks to six games last year is beginning to figure it out.

They’ve added new depth and balance. Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert bring reliable shooting and veteran composure on the wings. Tobias Harris gives them that steady vet presence up front. Behind him, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart control the paint with toughness and physicality. And when you mix that with young talent like Ron Holland II, Ausar Thompson, Marcus Sasser, and eventually Jaden Ivey — you can see why there’s real excitement back in Detroit.

At the center of it all is Cade Cunningham.

A first-time All-Star last season, Cade has battled through lower-leg injuries throughout his career, but he looks healthy this year and it shows. He’s averaging 27 points and 10 assists, joining Nikola Jokić as the only two players in the league this year to average at least 25 points and 10 assists.

Cade is a big guard who’s completely in control. His pace is different. The game’s slowing down for him now. You can see it in his reads, the timing on his passes, the way he manipulates the defense instead of reacting to it. He’s dictating rhythm.

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham drives to the rim.

He’s scored 30 or more in five of Detroit’s first ten games, including a wild 46-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist triple-double against Washington last night. Yes, he missed 31 shots — the most since Kobe in 2002, but that says something about his confidence and his will. He kept coming. And he had to. The Pistons were down six rotation guys, facing a team with only one win. Those are the games you can’t drop, and Cade made sure they didn’t.

The next step for Detroit is to get out of the first round. No rush right? They're still growing. But when you’ve got a player like Cade Cunningham, that timeline accelerates whether you want it to or not.

I’m not saying the Pistons are going to win the NBA title this year. What I’m saying is that Cade is that good. And when we talk about the next wave of superstar leaders in this league, Cade Cunningham belongs right there at the top.