Cade Cunningham’s finally breaking through the precipice of stardom he’s been teetering on for quite some time. Through the first third of his third healthy season, Cunningham has ascended to All-Star status for a finally competent Detroit Pistons team. He’s at the center of their turnaround, lifting them out of the NBA’s dilapidated basement.
He’s reaching career highs in nearly every metric, tallying 24 points, 9.7 assists, 7.1 rebounds and one block per game. Cunningham’s efficiency still sits a tad below league average, but 55.4 percent true shooting is the best mark of his young career. Estimated Plus-Minus views Cunningham as a top 30 player (plus-3.3). He’s one of 14 players with an Offensive and Defensive EPM both ranking above the 85th percentile.
To reach true superstar status, Cunningham’s efficiency must continue to rise. However, his enormous usage can help contextualize some of his scoring limitations. Few players in the NBA absorb as much of a team’s offense as him. According to NBA RAPM, he spends 45.9 percent of his time on the ball, the fourth highest of any player. His 30.4 percent usage rate places him in the 96th percentile.
Cunningham Is A Playmaking Maestro
Detroit’s offseason additions have helped life its baseline, but all of them are complementary players. Aside from the still-inconsistent Jaden Ivey, the Pistons can’t trust anyone to initiate offense. Defenses sell out to limit Cunningham’s scoring, which further fuels his elite passing.
He’s always been an elite passer, but his playmaking is reaching new heights. One of the NBA’s most prolific passers. he ranks third in assists per game (9.7) and second in assist rate (42.6 percent) this season. Despite still turning the ball over 4.5 times per game, Cunningham’s assist-to-turnover ratio (2.16) is excellent on account of his passing volume.
cade cunningham this season ranks 3rd in assists per game (9.7 and 2nd in assist rate (42.6%). one of the league’s best distributors
he passes to every spot on the floor, delivers with both hands and weaponizes his height to see over defenses. unreal playmaker pic.twitter.com/x90HK3Ny46
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) December 22, 2024
At 6-foot-7, Cunningham boasts the height and vision to pass over every defensive coverage. He creates passing angles with his advantage creation, finding laydowns to cutters and skips to shooters. The collective athleticism of Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland all present easy assists for Cunningham in transition and early offense.
A Shooting Leap
His indicators always suggested he’d develop into an excellent 3-point shooter and he’s blossoming into that. His 3-point percentage has risen every season (excluding the 12 games he played in 2023): 31.4 percent as a rookie, 35.5 percent last season and 38.5 percent this year.
Like many high-volume primaries, Cunningham’s shooting value extends well beyond his raw efficiency. His 38.5 percent clip puts him in the 69th percentile and that undersells his shooting greatness. He attempts an above-average 6.4 threes per 75 possessions, but a paltry 54.8 percent of his triples come via assist (eighth percentile). Detroit’s reliance on him as a handler means he won’t see many easy catch-and-shoot jumpers.
A massive 62.7 percent of Cunningham’s threes come off of the dribble, where he’s highly efficient. He’s drilling 39.2 percent of those shots, the ninth-highest clip in the NBA (minimum three attempts per game). His height always allowed him to access jumpers many guards can’t, but he’s expanding his off-dribble creation game. He’s mixing in more stepbacks, decelerating to punish defenders who play his drives.
cade cunningham’s been one of the NBA’s better shooters this season — 38.5% on 6.4 threes per 75, 39.6% on pull-up threes.
he’s creating enough separation to shoot over the top of defenses, which opens up his elite mid range game pic.twitter.com/qwafxQmWhp
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) December 22, 2024
Cunningham’s midrange volume has dipped significantly from last season, but his 6.8 attempts per 75 possessions still place him in the 93rd percentile. He converts a sturdy 45.6 percent of those shots, working to whichever spot he pleases and pulling over defenders.
He’s one of the better post-scoring guards in the NBA, capable of hooking shots in with both hands regardless of contests. Few young guards match his intermediate scoring prowess, but his finishing at the rim will ultimately decide his level of stardom.
Cunningham’s lack of vertical explosion makes him an oddly poor finisher, given his touch and skill level. He’s made 53.1 percent of his shots within five feet (ninth percentile) and a frigid 55.1 percent in the restricted area. That’s the lowest efficiency of his career, despite fairly consistent volume and assist rates throughout.
To reach his ceiling as a scorer, he must improve as a finisher. He’s an excellent driver, attacking the hoop 17.1 times per game. His downhill advantage creation helps him navigate to the rim at will. Even slightly below-average finishing would do wonders for his efficiency. Given his lack of explosion, adding core and lower body strength would help him wedge out more space and draw fouls at a higher rate.
Defensive Dynamo
Cunningham’s defensive impact helps counterbalance some of his offensive flaws as a primary initiator. It’s rare for high-usage guards to thrive on defense like he does. Of the 20 NBA players above a 30 percent usage rate, Cunningham’s plus-1.3 D-EPM is the fifth-highest mark.
He’s a sturdy on-ball defender, mirroring ball-handlers of all sizes to force difficult shots. Cunningham’s feel for the game always helped him position well off of the ball and he’s as locked in as ever there. For a Detroit team without much paint protection, Cunningham’s shot-blocking and interior defensive chops have been critical.
At his current pace, Cunningham should notch his first All-Star appearance in 2025. His two-way impact as a high-usage creator forms a rare package in today’s NBA. A weaker Eastern Conference field should help lock him in there.
Questions about his ultimate ceiling aren’t relevant to a potential All-Star berth this year, but they’ll loom large in Detroit. Can he progress his interior scoring enough to develop into a top-10 NBA player? How will he look when he finally plays next to other star talents? Cunningham’s arrow points sharply upwards, though. Detroit has its first franchise star in years.
