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Pistons' Cade Cunningham Sees Drastic Rise in NBA Player Rankings

Should the Detroit Pistons star be placed higher?
Kevin McCormick|
Feb 21, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) warms up before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Feb 21, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) warms up before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

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Detroit Pistons

In his fourth season, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham put together a breakout campaign that landed him All-Star and All-NBA honors. Now a budding superstar in the NBA, his stock around the league is on a meteoric rise.

Cunningham had lofty expectations as a former No. 1 pick who just signed a max contract extension. He quickly showed the franchise they made the right decision by investing in him, as he cemented himself among the game's top young stars.

With a supporting cast filled with complementary pieces, Cunningham showed how effective he can be as the focal point of the Pistons' offense. He led the charge as both a scorer and facilitator, averaging 26.1 PPG and 9.1 APG in the regular season.

Cunningham's improved play did wonders for the Pistons, as it was a major catalyst in their historic turnaround. Though they ended up being eliminated in the first round, Cunningham maintained his high level of play under the bright lights of the postseason.

Pistons Cade Cunningha
Apr 21, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) reacts during the third quarter of game two of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

When ESPN put out their top 100 player rankings last season, Cunningham was a player many felt was slighted. Fast forward to the present, and that is no longer the case. Following his strong play in 2025, he drastically climbed the newest rankings.

Cunningham jumped 55 spots in one year's time, going from No. 67 to No. 12.

In his first taste of postseason basketball, Cunningham absolutely looked up to the task. The young Pistons took a major step forward with a tough first-round playoff series that ultimately ended in a loss to the Knicks. Cunningham was at the forefront of Detroit's turnaround last season, which led to his rise up this list. With more talent surrounding him on the roster, Cunningham looked like the star Detroit envisioned when it selected him No. 1 in 2021.

Still a few years away from his prime, the Pistons guard has been stamped as a premier talent in this league. Now, he faces the tough challenge of maintaining his production in an effort to inch closer to the NBA's upper echelon of stars.

Between the Pistons' core having another year of development and the front office bringing in new complementary pieces, Cunningham has a good chance to replicate the success he had in 2025.

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Published | Modified
Kevin McCormick
KEVIN MCCORMICK

Since graduating from Holy Family University with a degree in Sports Management, he's gone on to pursue a career in journalism covering the NBA. Some of his previous bylines include 97.3 ESPN, ClutchPoints, and Sportskeeda.

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