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NBA Makes Cade Cunningham Announcement Before Pistons-Knicks Game 2

Cade Cunningham is a Most Improved Player finalist.

Justin Grasso

Jan 13, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) reacts during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Jan 13, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) reacts during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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On Monday night, Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons will be back on the court at Madison Square Garden for the Game 2 matchup against the New York Knicks.

Ahead of the action, the NBA made an announcement, confirming Cunningham’s status as a Most Improved Player of the Year finalist. For many, Cunningham’s presence on the list doesn’t come as a surprise.

The Pistons All-Star is joined by Atlanta Hawks veteran Dyson Daniels and Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac.

The fourth-year emergence from Cunningham has been a major storyline coming out of Detroit. As the Pistons entered the 2024-2025 NBA season coming off a 14-win effort, Cunningham stunned the league as he became a major driver behind a team that won over 40 games suddenly.

Cunningham finished his season with 70 games played, allowing him to hit the 65-game minimum threshold for end-of-year awards for the first time in his career.

Throughout the year, Cunningham posted averages of 26 points, six rebounds, and nine assists. He shot 47 percent from the field and 36 percent from three on six attempts per game.

Last year, Cunningham averaged 23 points, eight assists, and four rebounds. The jump hasn’t been major from a statistical standpoint, but it was significant enough to help the Pistons go from having the highest odds for the top pick to cracking a spot in the NBA Playoffs.

Cunningham added All-Star to his resume for the first time this year. Soon, he could add some more notable nods before heading into his fifth season.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso is a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writer’s Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoNBA

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