Throughout their reconstruction, the Detroit Pistons The Cardinals have only had the first pick once. That was in 2021, when they selected Cade Cunningham after a strong freshman season at Oklahoma State.
Cunningham quickly proved himself to be a promising young talent in the league, finishing third in the 2022 Rookie of the Year voting. However, things ended up taking an unfortunate turn for him in Year 2. After just 12 games of the 2023 season, he was forced to be sidelined after suffering a season-ending injury.
Last year, Cunningham rebounded in spectacular fashion after an injury-plagued season. In addition to playing 62 games for the Pistons, he averaged 22.7 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game and 7.5 assists per game.
Before the start of the 2025 season, the people of Bleacher Report has compiled a list of young players who could become stars in the near future. Among those mentioned is the Pistons point guard.
This version of Cunningham, the massive player who scores efficiently from two out of three and navigates stationary defenses in his sleep, is a prime candidate for All-NBA. This type of basketball simply needs to continue for a longer period of time.
Heading into his fourth season, Cunningham has the tools to potentially take another step forward this season. Trajan Langdon has made several upgrades to the roster this offseason, primarily in the form of three-point shooting. Having players like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley on the court should allow Cunningham to further expand his game as a playmaker and scorer.
If the Pistons want to grow into a competitive team, they need someone from the core to become a star. Given the current situation, Cunningham has the best chance of reaching that level.
