Cade Cunningham’s Rise: How Detroit Pistons’ Star is Shaping Up

Cade Cunningham’s Rise: How Detroit Pistons’ Star is Shaping Up

Cade Cunningham is making significant strides in his player development, inching closer to the star potential we’ve all been anticipating. As we approach the All-Star voting period, it’s crucial to recognize the impressive season Cunningham is having and examine the areas where he still needs to improve.

Let’s start with the positives. Cunningham is averaging 23.5 points and nearly 10 assists per game, with an impressive 9.7 assists over the last four games. He’s already notched six triple-doubles this season, trailing only LeBron James and Nikola Jokic in that category. These numbers alone showcase his versatility and impact on the court.

Diving deeper into the statistics, Cunningham’s improvement in the pick-and-roll game is particularly noteworthy. He’s one of only six players in the NBA averaging at least 10 pick-and-roll possessions per game. His three-point shooting off the pick-and-roll sits at a solid 39.7%, ranking him third among high-volume pick-and-roll players, behind only LaMelo Ball and ahead of stars like Damian Lillard, Trae Young, and Luka Doncic.

Cunningham’s ability to score and create for others out of the pick-and-roll has been exceptional. He ranks in the 86th percentile in pick-and-roll efficiency when including passes, demonstrating his prowess as both a scorer and a playmaker in these situations.

Areas for Improvement

Despite his impressive progress, there are still areas where Cunningham needs to improve to reach superstar status. The most glaring weakness is his finishing at the rim. Among players with at least 150 shots at the rim this season, Cunningham ranks last in efficiency. Improving his ability to convert these opportunities or draw fouls will be crucial for his development.

Another area for growth is his isolation scoring. Of the 20 players with at least 70 isolation possessions this season, Cunningham ranks 16th in efficiency. Enhancing his ability to create his own shot and score in one-on-one situations will be key to reaching that next level.

For more insights and a deeper dive into Cade Cunningham’s development, tune into the Locked On Pistons podcast for this and much more.

Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Pistons Podcast:

• Potential changes to the Pistons’ starting lineup

• The team’s inconsistent performance and possible reasons behind it

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