Cade Cunningham: From College Standout to NBA Star

Cade Cunningham, born on September 25, 2001, is an American professional basketball player currently with the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His journey to the NBA began in Arlington, Texas, where he excelled in both football and basketball. Cunningham's versatility, honed from his days as a quarterback, has made him a dynamic force on the court.

Early Life and High School Career

Growing up in Arlington, Texas, Cunningham attended Bowie High School. As a freshman, he quickly became a starter, averaging 15.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. His performance earned him the District 4-6A Newcomer of the Year award, and he led Bowie to the District 6A Region I final. Despite an injury during his sophomore season, he continued to impress, averaging 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.

Transfer to Montverde Academy

Before his junior year, Cunningham transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, known for its successful basketball program and strong academics. Joining a team ranked number one nationally by USA Today, Cunningham excelled alongside future NBA players. In one standout performance, he recorded 26 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds against Oak Hill Academy. By the end of his junior season, he averaged 11.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.

EYBL and Senior Season

Cunningham's success continued in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL), where he was named MVP after averaging 25.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game for the Texas Titans. His teammates included Greg Brown and Mike Miles Jr. In his senior season at Montverde, he was joined by top recruits such as Scottie Barnes and Day'Ron Sharpe, forming what many analysts considered one of the best high school basketball teams ever. Cunningham averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game, leading Montverde to a 25-0 record with an average margin of victory of 39 points. His contributions led to him being honored as Mr. Basketball USA and Naismith Player of the Year.

College Career at Oklahoma State

Rated a consensus five-star recruit, Cunningham received offers from top NCAA Division I programs, including Duke, Kentucky, and North Carolina. However, he committed to Oklahoma State on November 5, 2019, becoming the highest-ranked recruit in program history since Marcus Smart in 2012. A significant factor in his decision was the hiring of his brother, Cannen Cunningham, as an assistant coach.

Impact on Oklahoma State

Thanks to the arrival of star freshman Cade Cunningham in 2020, Oklahoma State's men's basketball program was able to produce arguably its best season since the Eddie Sutton era, which included a Final Four run in 2004. Despite an NCAA postseason ban imposed in June 2020 (which was eventually lifted), Cunningham remained committed to Oklahoma State.

Freshman Season Highlights

During his freshman season, Cunningham lived up to the hype, earning numerous accolades. His size and skill set allowed him to play a versatile game, running Oklahoma State's offense while shooting 40 percent from behind the arc. He averaged 20.1 points per game and led Oklahoma State to the second round of the NCAA tournament. In his first game against rival Oklahoma, Cunningham scored a season-high 40 points on efficient shooting, making 12 of 21 shots, including three 3-pointers, and 13 of 14 free throws.

Awards and Recognition

After his outstanding freshman season, Cunningham was named a consensus first-team All-American. He also received the Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Freshman of the Year awards. Additionally, he was honored as the Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year and the NABC Freshman of the Year.

Memorable Games

Cunningham showcased his talent in several key games:

Oklahoma State 75, UT-Arlington 68 (Nov. 25, 2020): Cunningham recorded a double-double, helping Oklahoma State secure a win.
Oklahoma State 84, Oakland 71 (Dec. 5, 2020): Cunningham continued to demonstrate his scoring ability.
Oklahoma State 94, Oklahoma 90 (Feb. 27, 2021): Cunningham exploded for a season-high 40 points in an overtime victory against their rivals.

Quotes

Several coaches and players commented on Cunningham's impact:

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Former Texas coach Shaka Smart: "There's a reason everybody has got him as the No. 1 player."
Former Oklahoma guard Austin Reaves: "He's not predicted No. 1 for no reason. He's a player."
Oklahoma State guard Bryce Williams: "Cade just takes the pressure off the rest of us. He's got so much pressure on him, but it's not really pressure to him. He can handle the situation."
Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton: "I don't really worry about Cade. I think everybody else worries about him a lot more than I do. First of all, I've known the kid since he was 14. I know how he's wired and I know that he wants to play to win."

NBA Career with the Detroit Pistons

On April 1, 2021, Cunningham declared for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. The Detroit Pistons selected him with the first overall pick.

Early Challenges and Debut

Cunningham missed part of training camp, all of the preseason, and the first five regular-season games due to an ankle injury. In his NBA debut on October 30, he scored two points, with two assists and seven rebounds in 18 minutes, in a win over the Orlando Magic.

Rookie Season

Despite the initial setbacks, Cunningham quickly found his rhythm. After five games, he posted his first 40-plus field-goal percentage. In his third NBA game, he recorded an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double. On November 15, Cunningham became the youngest player in NBA history to tally at least 25 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists with five three-pointers in a game. He finished the season averaging a rookie-best 17.4 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.5 rebounds.

2022-23 Season and Injury

On October 28, 2022, Cunningham scored a career-high 35 points, along with nine rebounds and eight assists, in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. However, he struggled in a game against the Boston Celtics on November 9, scoring a season-low four points. He did not play again that season due to a stress fracture in his left shin and was ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on December 12.

2023-24 Season

Cunningham made a strong return in the 2023-24 season opener, scoring a game-high 30 points and nine assists in a narrow loss to the Miami Heat. Three days later, he had 25 points and 10 assists in a win over the Chicago Bulls. On December 18, he scored a career-high 43 points in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. On December 26, he scored 41 points in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets, a game that saw the Pistons set an NBA single-season record with their 27th consecutive loss. On December 28, he had 31 points and nine assists in an overtime loss to the Boston Celtics.

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2024-25 Season

On November 8, 2024, Cunningham recorded a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists, including a game-winning floater in a win over the Atlanta Hawks. He achieved a triple-double in his third consecutive game, tying Grant Hill for the longest such streak in Pistons franchise history. It was his fifth career triple-double, tying him with Isiah Thomas for the second-most in Pistons history. By November 17, Cunningham added another triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win against the Washington Wizards. On January 10, 2025, Cunningham notched his seventh triple-double of the season against the Toronto Raptors, finishing with 22 points, 17 assists, and 10 rebounds. He also surpassed Isiah Thomas for the most 15-assist triple-doubles in Pistons franchise history. On January 30, Cunningham was named a reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, marking his first selection. Cunningham finished the regular season averaging 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game in 70 contests. He joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average 25+ points, 5+ rebounds and 9+ assists per game at age 23 or younger. Cunningham helped the Pistons make a 30-win improvement this season, earning a 44-38 record and the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference.

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