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Detroit Pistons Center Makes Strong Cade Cunningham Statement

After taking down the Miami Heat, Jalen Duren made a strong statement about Cade Cunningham's play.
Justin Grasso|
Mar 17, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) reacts after a score next to center Jalen Duren (0) during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Mar 17, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) reacts after a score next to center Jalen Duren (0) during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

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After a matchup against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren made a strong statement regarding his All-Star teammate, Cade Cunningham.

When Duren was asked about Cunningham’s status as a potential All-NBA candidate, he almost couldn’t believe that was a question.

"We’re still trying to make a case for that?” he said to reporters via Omari Sankofa.

“If you don’t know that by now, not only are you not watching us, you’re not watching basketball. He’s been the best guard in the NBA all year if you ask me. Watch the games, man."

Duren’s comments come fresh off of a Pistons victory over the Miami Heat. Not only did Cunningham notch a triple-double in the game, but he closed out the matchup in regulation with a dagger three-point shot to put the Heat away for their ninth loss in a row.

It was an entertaining matchup down the wire, and once again, the Pistons showed the rest of the NBA that they are truly a threat this season after spending years at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Cunningham wrapped up the Miami matchup with 25 points on 11-25 shooting, along with 12 rebounds and 11 assists. For the first time in his career, Cunningham has wrapped up 65 games played. He is averaging 26 points on a career-high 46 percent shooting from the field.

Along with his scoring, Cunningham is dishing out nine assists per game while coming down with six rebounds per outing. He earned his first All-Star nod earlier this season and is now stating a legitimate case to be an All-NBA nominee.

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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

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