Detroit Pistons Followers Debate Haliburton, Barnes Over Cade Cunningham

With regards to the High 100 NBA Gamers, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is taken into account a high 50 expertise, in keeping with The ringtone up to date rankings.

Cunningham is not any stranger to the listing, however he noticed a slight increase to land at No. 45 in the course of the first half of December.

By means of the primary 22 video games of the 2024-25 NBA season, Cunningham is placing collectively a profession 12 months. He scores 24 factors per sport, however shoots 46 p.c from the sphere and makes 39 p.c of his three pictures.

As soon as once more, Cunningham’s play was sharp, as he practically averaged double-digit assists. After averaging simply 4 rebounds per sport in 62 outings final 12 months, Cunningham is averaging seven rebounds per sport to date this season.

The questionable a part of Cunningham’s efficiency this season has been his excessive turnover price. Averaging practically 5 turnovers per sport, Cunningham has misplaced management of the ball on 16 p.c of his possessions this 12 months, his lowest price since his rookie season. That ranks within the twenty ninth percentile for the purpose guard place this 12 months.

Whereas Cunningham’s presence on the roster is anticipated, it is clear that many Pistons followers aren’t precisely thrilled with Cunningham’s place within the league, in keeping with The ringtone.

@mikeypistons: The Ringer’s new 100 finest NBA gamers…. Hali has by no means been higher than Cade this season

@CunninghamGoat: Cade performs higher than Barnes in each attainable statistical class and so they ranked him increased 💀

@kd_3767: this would possibly actually be the worst listing ever

@nick__xo: I am certain Franz is within the high 25 and Cade isn’t lmao

@pw_phil88: I actually really feel like their reluctance to rank Cade as a high 25 participant is solely as a result of staff he performs for. As a result of what else does Cade have to point out?

@richardbrooks01: They rank him 45 however he performed like a high 20 participant this 12 months.

Maybe historical past performed a task within the panel’s choice to rank sure gamers increased. Some names had been continuously talked about, beginning with that of Scottie Barnes, from Toronto.

At 44, Barnes is simply forward of Cunningham. He’s coming off an All-Star season and has the NBA Rookie of the 12 months award on his resume. Whereas these accolades could also be why Barnes holds that placement forward of Cunningham in the intervening time, the Raptors’ spot on the roster has gone up and down all year long.

Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton was one other controversial rating introduced up by Pistons followers. The Pacers guard’s fall within the rankings is likely one of the much less stunning issues to see on the up to date listing.

Sitting at No. 33, Haliburton has fallen over time from the High 20. This season, Haliburton is averaging lower than 18 factors per sport whereas combating its three-point capturing, capturing 34 p.c from deep. The help numbers are nonetheless excessive, as he is allotting eight per outing, however the Pacers aren’t having any extra success than the Pistons at this level within the 12 months.

Haliburton’s two All-Star nominations would possibly give him the good thing about the doubt early on, however he is actually being seen in a very completely different mild to date this season. If every little thing continues to play out the identical method, there is a reasonable likelihood that Cunningham may sneak previous the Pacers’ guard in some unspecified time in the future.