Monday night was a superb time to Detroit Pistons proprietor Tom Gores to speak about his workforce. In response to Athletics Hunter PattersonGores spoke to reporters as his workforce labored to place away the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time this season.
Not solely did the Pistons earn their second straight win within the West, however veteran guard Cade Cunningham was named Japanese Convention Participant of the Week for the primary time in his profession.
Shocking? Not essentially.
“I feel it’s wonderful — I’m not stunned in any respect by Cade’s growth,” Gores instructed reporters.
“Cade has at all times been that particular person and has that potential to rise above every little thing else. Although most individuals watch and, after all, acknowledge Cade’s success, I am not stunned in any respect. It is this man.
NBA Gamers of the Week for Week 9.
West: Victor Wembanyama (@spurs)
East: Cade Cunningham (@DetroitPistons) pic.twitter.com/Pmqr0LXSQy-NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2024
The Pistons invested closely in Cunningham from the beginning. When the star guard was getting into the 2021 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma State, the Pistons devoted their No. 1 general choose to Cunningham.
Whereas accidents affected his progress early on, his third season confirmed Gores and Detroit’s new entrance workplace sufficient to make Cunningham a max contract provide.
Subsequent season, Cunningham is anticipated to make almost $40 million. It seems to be like he’ll be value each greenback all through the primary a part of the 2024-25 NBA season.
Not solely is Cunningham having a profession 12 months, which may end in an All-Star look, however he’s main the Pistons to a way more profitable consequence than in earlier years.
“Our younger males are performing properly,” Gores added. “They’re actually adapting to what Pistons basketball is. We monitor all our younger males. Cade is changing into the chief he at all times was. So I am very happy with it.
In 26 video games, Cunningham averaged 24 factors, seven rebounds and ten assists. He shoots the ball 45 p.c from the sphere and 37 p.c from three. The Pistons are one win away from matching final 12 months’s whole.
