Cade Cunningham notches another triple-double as Pistons remain strong

Omari Sankofa II: Asked Tim Hardaway Jr. about Cade Cunningham being one of the best guards in the East. He corrected me. “In the NBA.” “He’s always had the confidence and the spirit, but he does a good job of staying positive through the nitty gritty. Doing a good job of holding people accountable.” -via Twitter @omarisankofa / January 11, 2025

Entering his fourth NBA season, Cunningham had a lot of questions to answer about his ultimate ceiling — even after Detroit had bestowed upon him a full max rookie extension this offseason. He has answered nearly all of them, setting career highs in virtually every category for the Pistons, who are now over .500 and a half-game out of sixth in the East after beating the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. “When the Pistons gave him the max, there were quite a few people who thought it was a risk,” one general manager said, “and he’s been very strong.” “He hasn’t made the biggest jump but maybe one of the most consequential,” an executive said. -via ESPN / January 10, 2025

There are other similarities between the two. Teammates refer to Billups as “Broadway,” because he coolly strolls into whatever room he’s in, and people gravitate to him. On the floor, Cunningham doesn’t use blinding athleticism as much as refined skills and a cunning sense of angles. You inhale, he bursts. You relax, he pulls up. “I would watch his clips. To see that team, the history of the organization,” Cade Cunningham said of Billups. “I would love to have my own chapter.” -via Yahoo! Sports / January 9, 2025