Cade Cunningham

Given plenty of reasons to praise his team after its much-needed statement victory on November 4, 2024, the Detroit Pistons’ head coach noted that, to win in today’s any-given-night type of NBA, one “can’t play scared.” Ironically enough, with the Pistons in search of a dagger, Cade Cunningham showed him a type of hesitation that even he had to appreciate. A nightmare to contain throughout the evening for the Los Angeles Lakers, Cunningham sets up shop at the Little Caesars Arena’s midcourt logo with Austin Reaves' defense of the tighter-than-glue type. Controlled in his movements, Cunningham pumps the brakes on a between-the-leg dribble with professional precision, freezing just long enough to set the bait on Reaves with a smooth shot-fake hesi, unlocking his path for a victory-securing layup. Cunningham left plenty of purple jerseys behind, but also a bit of history, too, as he turned in 17 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, one 3-pointer, and a +14 plus-minus, momentum that would ultimately introduce three consecutive triple-doubles soon thereafter.