One surefire way to know you’ve got a talented prospect on your hands? They don’t shy away from battles against the game’s biggest stars. Creating a switch in a pick-and-roll, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham works his handle, taking the league’s reigning MVP for a ride with a sharp behind-the-back before finishing the play with a three-point bucket. Against a top-tier Denver Nuggets team, Cunningham showed why he was the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, finishing with 34 points on 14-of-26 shooting, adding eight rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and two steals on January 25, 2022.

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham creates spaces against reigning MVP, pulls up for triple

The pressure of your first NBA bucket can be immense — especially when you’re the first overall pick. Detroit Pistons 2021 draftee Cade Cunningham catches a pass at the arc and immediately blows by his defender and through the lane to lay one in with his left. Detroit walked away with the win in the rookie’s NBA debut on October 30, 2021.

Cade Cunningham penetrates through zone for layup in first NBA matchup

Get between Cade Cunningham and his people at your own risk. Gifted with patience and an impressively technical skillset, the Detroit Pistons rookie navigates around a defensive switch, drives baseline past a slow-adjusting help-side defender, then ducks under the hoop for an instantly memorable reverse slam. Cunningham finished the January 16, 2022 contest against the Phoenix Suns with 21 points.

Cade Cunningham sneaks under hoop, crams on Suns on far side of rim

A formidable combination of size and skill, when Cade Cunningham is aggressive with the basketball, it’s lights out for the defense. Checked by a resilient defender at the top of the key, Cunningham lunges hard to his right, then crosses back to his left and buries an elbow jumper. The third-year Detroit Pistons guard finished the October 28, 2023 contest with 25 points, 10 assists and a W.

Cade Cunningham ditches defender and buries jumper

Good luck stopping Cade Cunningham when he’s determined to score. The Detroit Pistons rookie breaks out a crossover, drives down the lane with a few dribbles and drops in a difficult, right-handed finger roll over the defender - plus the foul. Cunningham took over in the January 10, 2022 win over the Jazz, finishing the night with 29 points, eight assists, two steals and two blocks.

Cade Cunningham slices through opening, buries tough layup

The game just looks easy when Cade Cunningham is playing with confidence. The first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft looks to be in his comfort zone with a strong drive to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks, finishing with an underhanded high-arcing scoop shot off the glass in traffic. Cunningham scored 27 of his career-high 35 points in the first half while also chipping in nine rebounds and eight assists for the Detroit Pistons on October 28, 2022.

Cade Cunningham scoops layup high off glass in 27-point half

Though celebrated widely for his combination of size and court vision, don’t underestimate Cade Cunningham’s command of the rock. Surrounded by teammates unafraid to push the pace in transition, the 20-year-old Detroit Pistons point forward calls for an outlet pass in the backcourt then laces a one-handed bounce pass up the floor to a streaking Saddiq Bey for two. Cunningham finished the January 30, 2022 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals.

Cade Cunningham laces fullcourt bounce pass to Saddiq Bey in triple-double game

There appears to be no slump in store in Cade Cunningham’s sophomore season — just ask the defending champions. Hosting the Golden State Warriors, Cunningham made sure to put on a show for the Detroit Pistons’ home crowd, pushing the tempo with purpose before threading the needle into a ridiculously narrow passing lane to teammate Killian Hayes for a successful layup. Cunningham filled up the box score, depositing 23 points along with 10 rebounds and nine assists in Detroit’s impressive 128-114 triumph on October 30, 2022. 

Cade Cunningham wires no-look feed to cutter in transition

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Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham