All Pistons

Pistons' Cade Cunningham Reveals Confidence Level as Season Closes

Mar 20, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) shoots a free throw
Mar 20, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) shoots a free throw | David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:


With about three weeks left to go in the regular season, things have not panned out how the
Detroit Pistons may have hopped. They’re currently on pace to once again finish with the worst record in the NBA. While the Pistons might have fallen short of expectations, there have still been some glowing positives.

After missing most of last season due to injury, Cade Cunningham has bounced back in a big
way. The former No. 1 pick is on track to play close to 70 games, and put up some of the best numbers of his young career. Cunningham’s averages currently sit at 22.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 7.5 APG.

Cunningham really turned a corner for the Pistons after the All-Star break. The week off
appeared to do well for him, as he went on an impressive string of performances. Since the
break, he is averaging over 23 PPG while shooting 45.2% from the field and 38.2% from beyond the arc.

As the season comes to a close, Detroit is without a handful of their key rotation players.
However, Cunningham remains in the lineup. Due to the team being so short handed, he’s been forced to take on an even larger role. In the Pistons’ latest matchup against the New York Knicks, Cunningham erupted for 32 points in a loss.

Following this impressive outing, Cunningham was asked about where his confidence level is at to close the year. “Same place it’s always been,” he responded. With his strong play to close out the year, Cunningham is building positive momentum moving forward for not only himself but the Pistons as well.


Published
Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s 76ers On SI Network. 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 Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia

Share on XFollow JGrasso_