On this Thanksgiving, the Detroit Pistons should do a thought exercise. Looking at the rest of the NBA, they should try to replace Cade Cunningham with other teams' best players and think about where the Pistons would be as a franchise in that situation. They will quickly come to realize how lucky they are that their favorite team has been blessed with a superstar like Cunningham, instead of a litany of injury-prone "stars" with availability concerns who care more about individual accolades than team success.
What makes Cunningham so special is the fact that he has been one of the best players in the league, even with his shot not falling so far. He is only making 28.4% of his threes and hasn't been very efficient. But, because he is so consistent and durable, and plays both ends of the floor, he can still provide All-NBA level production. Plus, he continues to improve as a passer and playmaker, averaging 9.6 assists per game. His ability to log heavy minutes, playing over 36 per game, puts Detroit's floor at a very high level.
Pistons Fans Are Lucky to Have Cade Cunningham in Detroit
Teams get their cues from their star players. The ones whose best player is rarely available, plays only one end of the floor, or doesn't care, don't find consistent success. Look at teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, and Charlotte Hornets, who all have stars who, at one point, were considered to be at least on the same level as Cunningham, if not better.
Cunningham continued to improve and became a true team leader, while the others have failed to lift their franchises.
When the Pistons defeated the Indiana Pacers on Monday for their 13th straight win, Cunningham wasn't satisfied. He said, "We just want to be our best version of ourselves, and tonight was not the best version of us. So I’m not happy about that," per The Athletic's Hunter Patterson.
At a time when many players would have celebrated tying the franchise record for most wins in a row, Cunningham didn't take his eyes off the prize.
Even when the Pistons were the worst team in the NBA and broke the record for most losses in a row, Cunningham never quit. He didn't complain or want out. Now, he has been the biggest reason for one of the most impressive franchise turnarounds in recent memory.
And for that, Pistons fans must be sure to give Cunningham a mention when going around the table, discussing what they're thankful for this week.