What can we expect from the Pistons this season? Coty M. Davis of The Detroit News provides a player-by-player analysis leading into the start of training camp. Twelfth in the series: Cade Cunningham
Last season
Cade Cunningham’s recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was a minor indication of his ascension last season. He was at the center of the most impressive one-year turnaround in Pistons history, with 44 wins and an unexpected playoff berth. Cunningham received his first All-Star and All-NBA selections, averaging 26.1 points on 46.9% shooting from the field, 35.6% on 3-pointers, 9.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 70 games.
From a pair of 40-point performances in January to posting the league’s fifth-most triple-doubles with nine, countless performances can summarize Cunningham’s breakout season.
One performance that stands out occurred during Detroit’s 116-113 victory over the Miami Heat on March 19. He led the Pistons to a win with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists at Kaseya Center. His crowning moment came in the final five seconds when Cunningham banked a game-winning triple over Heat’s All-Star Bam Adebayo on a national broadcast.
Cunningham clutched his jersey to display the team’s name, boldly displayed across his chest in celebration, signaling that he and the franchise had officially arrived.
His production showed some minor slippage in his first postseason experience, however. Cunningham still had an good series overall against the New York Knicks, averaging 25.0 points on 42.6% shooting, 17.9% from behind the arc, 8.7 assists, 8.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks. during the six games.
Cunningham’s career year has resulted in him entering the upcoming season ranked as the 12th-best player in the league, per ESPN.
2025-26 outlook
As long as Cunningham stays healthy, he likely will replicate his All-NBA performance. In fact, if the Pistons can crack 50 wins, the 2025-26 season will be the year Cunningham officially solidifies himself as a legitimate MVP candidate.
Turnovers are the lone knock against Cunningham as he enters his fifth year. He averaged 3.5 turnovers during his first three seasons. Last year, Cunningham registered a career-high 4.4 turnovers, finishing second to Trae Young, who averaged a league-high 4.7. In the playoffs, he totaled 32 giveaways in six games.
Cunningham’s usage rate of 33.2% has played a big factor in his turnover woes. The correlation is a testament to the same criticism that plagued James Harden at the height of his career with the Houston Rockets, when he led the league in turnovers and usage percentages.
Whether ill-advised reads or passes, turnovers are an individual concern for Cunningham. However, the issue also relates to the Pistons’ need to pair their All-Star guard with a player who can help reduce his ball-handling responsibilities at times.
The return of Jaden Ivey could help Cunningham address his most significant flaw, and any improvement should keep the Pistons from experiencing any form of regression this coming season.
“He had an incredible year,” president Trajan Langdon said in May. “Stats-wise, he was fantastic. He got better. I think people who knew basketball already knew he was a helluva talent, that he was capable of doing that, but he had not driven winning. He was the main driver of winning for us this year. That was his biggest step and the hardest step to take.”
@cotydavis_24
Pistons previews
▶ Can Tobias Harris be a consistent contributor in year 15?
▶ Is Jalen Duren poised for an All-Star season?
▶ Can Duncan Robinson become more than a 3-point specialist?
▶ Can Caris LeVert fill a massive void in Detroit’s rotation?
▶ Could Ron Holland’s improvements lead to a sixth man role?
▶ Will Isaiah Stewart become more than a defensive specialist?
▶ Will Marcus Sasser have a more prominent role in Year 3?
▶ Can Paul Reed reprise his role as Detroit’s unsung hero?
▶ Can Bobi Klintman and Chaz Lanier establish meaningful roles?
▶ Can two-way prospects contribute to Detroit’s depth?
▶ Can Jaden Ivey return to form following broken leg?