Cade Cunningham

Fireworks are guaranteed to happen on a night-to-night basis, so long as NBA action is scheduled. Though, it’s safe to say that when the league's most accomplished shot-block guard of this decade meets an up-and-comer with little fear for any, viewers have stumbled across something truly special. With a noticeably-fiery determination in his eyes, and the Detroit Pistons hindered by an early 16-point deficit, Cade Cunningham introduces a new example, first by dribbling through a forest of green jerseys to set up a two-on-one fastbreak opportunity. Holding both the ball and Derrick White’s investment, Cunningham ultimately calls upon himself, overwhelming the Boston Celtics’ star defender with a powerful one-handed poster flush. Catching the Celtics in the middle of a five-games-in-seven-nights stretch, Cunningham’s Pistons found a way to bounce back in the second half, ultimately presenting a formidable challenge even in defeat. In captaining the charge, Cunningham tied for a team-high 27 points (on 11-of-21 shooting), accompanied by nine rebounds, 14 assists, one block, and three 3-pointers on December 4, 2024.