Cade Cunningham's Ascent: How Detroit's Rising Star is Redefining the Pistons' Legacy

From Historic Lows to Record-Setting Turnaround

The Detroit Pistons’ 27-game losing streak in 2023 seemed to cement them as the league’s laughingstock. But in the wreckage of that dismal season, Cade Cunningham emerged as the emotional and statistical backbone of a franchise desperate for hope. Fast forward to 2025: the Pistons have tripled their win total (42-32), and Cunningham—averaging career highs of 25.7 PPG, 9.2 APG, and 46.2% FG—is the frontrunner for Most Improved Player.

The Leadership Blueprint

During the darkest moments, Cunningham’s locker-room mantra—"Don’t jump off the boat"—became Detroit’s rallying cry. Teammates and rivals alike have taken notice.

Zion Williamson (Pelicans): "He’s an All-NBA player. He lets his work speak for him."
Andre Drummond (76ers, ex-Piston): "Detroit’s my home. Seeing Cade’s success feels like we’re all part of it."

Cunningham's impact extends beyond stats. His NBA-leading 84 assists to Jalen Duren’s dunks and 75 assists to Malik Beasley’s threes (per Second Spectrum) underscore his court vision.

Chasing Greatness

Cunningham’s ambitions are audacious. "I can be the best player in the world," he told ESPN. His game draws comparisons to Grant Hill, whose record of 13 triple-doubles in a season (1996-97) is now in Cunningham’s sights (he has 9 this year). Hill himself praised Cunningham’s "feel for the game" and tipped him for future Team USA stints.

The Cultural Fit

Detroit’s embrace of Cunningham runs deep. Draft-night "Buffs" (Cartier sunglasses) signaled his connection to the city’s hip-hop scene, with rappers like 42 Dugg championing his rise. The parallel resurgence of the Lions (NFL) and Pistons has fueled a city-wide revival, embodied by Cunningham’s buzzer-beating triple-double against Miami—captured on camera by Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The Road Ahead

With a $224 million extension secured, Cunningham is poised to lead Detroit’s first playoff push since 2019. His response to early "bust" talk? *"I wanted to hold up my end of the bargain."**

Key Stats (2024-25 Season):