Theres a saying about the pastForget that. Were not here to focus on what was. And at this moment, neither is Cade Cunningham, as he leads a renaissance in Detroit. Yes, the first few years in the League for the Pistons prodigy were tumultuous. Those losses have been well documented: 192 over three years while tying the NBAs all-time losing streak last season with 28 straight. But in 2025, Cunningham has the city of Detroit envisioning hoops through late April for the first time in six years. Its a stark contrast to the feeling that loomed over the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center just last season.
It was hard losing so many games. Always seeing myself as a winner growing up, always having won, basically in all sports, to have a streak like last year and to have a year that was as tough as it was, I definitely learned a lot about myself and my mental fortitude, Cade says. Also, just staying in the grind, not leaving it. Trusting the work, trusting the path that I always believed I was on. I think that was the biggest thing that helped me get through it.
Cunningham didnt just get through ithes evolved in the midst of it. Hes averaging the most points (25.6) by a Piston since the 2000-01 season. Hes averaging a career-high 9.3 dimes a night, which ranks third in the L, on top of pulling down 6.0 boards a game. Hes on pace to become the seventh player in League history to average at least 25/9/6, and his eight triple-doubles this season are the third-most by a Piston since Grant Hills 13 in 96-97 and 10 in 95-96. Oh yeah, and hes got the Pistons sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference standings with their sights set on moving up.
Youre looking at the Motor Citys first All-Star since 2019. The former No. 1 overall pick who built out the foundation that has Detroit back to sitting above .500 for the foreseeable future. At 38-31 as we go to press, the on-court architect of the Pistons resurgence has done more than get them back into the mix; theyre turning into the team that the rest of the League doesnt want to see. And it began with first-year head coach J.B. Bickerstaff asking his star orchestrator what he wanted out of this season.
A clean slate.
I wanted to take the step forward towards playoff basketball, not knowing if that was going to mean we were going to make the playoffs or if we were just going to see growth and be a more competitive team, Cunningham says. Team-wise, more than anything, just winning. Competing in games, being in all games that we play. Weve been there. Were doing that now. Weve definitely lived up to everything that we were talking about [doing] for sure.
This seasons turnaround wasnt a leap of faith. In reality, the Arlington, TX, native has been brimming with confidence since spending all of this past offseason training at 100 percent. He knew the phrase taking things day by day intimately, from missing training camp as a rookie with an ankle injury to sitting out for a majority of his second season after undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left leg. He knew the process back to the Leagues competitive ranks would be a mirror to his journey thus fara test of will. But four straight Ls to start the season didnt shake what the previous four months in the gym had envisioned. If anything, it just made Cade and the Pistons lock in even more.
If you were to ask No. 2 when he started to feel the vibes of the season shift, hed point to the Pistons first West Coast trip that ignited more than a few win streaks. From Phoenix to L.A. and Sacramento, Cade and the Pistons rattled off several wins in late December. By early January, they had strung together a five-game win streak and won eight of their last nine. Little Caesars Arena has been lit ever since.
That West Coast trip, like I said, was a huge trip for us. I think that really helped get our momentum going in the right direction, Cunningham says. Beating some really good teams in a row, I think that was a huge confidence booster for us. I think that was one of the big differences where we all saw change. Like,Aight, were in the mix now. Were playing in big games. Were playing for wins every night. We hadnt been doing that before.
The before times featured shouldering the blame and expectations of an entire organization. Losses used to be tough, demoralizing. They arent as much anymore. Instead of blowouts, todays losses are determined by single digits. The present sees a retooled confidence and deeper connections with teammates and coaches. Cades no longer doing it alone. As the head honcho of a squad with equal amounts of youngins and veteran wings, they all look to him as much as he does to them.
The past two draft classes have brought both Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II to the squad. And first-year president Trajan Langdon has infused a hunger throughout the front office that resulted in the acquisitions of Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr and Malik Beasley this offseason. In the background, Cade and third-year center Jalen Duren have constructed the NBAs latest lob duo threat. And Jaden Iveys making his way back from injury for next season.
All those dimes, dots and assists are just as much a result of Cade snaking around screens and biding his time as they are Beas or Tobias knocking down a corner drift three or Duren trailing
down the lane, anticipating the mid-air connection. Whether hes looking off defenders with his eyes or hesitating ever so slightly to open up a gap, Cades got a counter at all times.
With a newly constructed, bolstered roster that places him squarely as the face of the franchise, Cade is excelling. Everyone is.
That made my life so much easierhaving guys, one, as professional as they are. The way that they approach every night, coming to play, coming to compete, he says. And then having all those guys that we just named come in and bring their own confidence and their own swag to the table has really helped us put a product together with a lot of the right ingredients.
His new vets have been committed to pouring their experience back into the roster. Theyve shared with Cade the ins and outs of different coverages. How he can attack them. Beat them. Outsmart them. Things that you dont necessarily see on the stat sheet, but make the game a lot easier whenever you understand them, Cunningham explains. All three of those guys have a different understanding of those things. Theyve taught me a lot since theyve been here, along with the fact that they put the ball in the rim, which we all need. Ive been lucky to have them here. We all have been. Its been fun playing with them, for sure.
As he sits inside the practice facility in mid-March for his second SLAM cover shoot, Cade says theres a collective chip across the roster, from those who have lived through the franchises struggles to those inheriting the responsibility of the change as it unfolds. And like hes always done dating back to his days at Bowie HS and then Montverde, Cade is analyzing moment by moment what type of leader he needs to be. In games. In the locker room. In practice. During film sessions. Learning what pushes his guys and what makes them fall back. What are those triggers? Is it sounding off vocally or quietly being the first in the gym? On top of methodically breaking down defenses and pulling defenders out to the three-point line with an improved range this season, Cade is constantly searching for ways to empower everyone.
And then in that, making sure that the knowledge that I do have, Im sharing it as much as I can. When I feel like I know something, I put it out there, Cunningham says. And then being able to be led as well. I was always told great leaders have to be great followers. And to be able to lead, you have to know how to follow as well. So I think making sure that Im being as great of a follower as I can for Coach J.B. I think that helps the rest of the team set the tone as far as ways to receive his coaching. And then I try to do the same as far as, like I said, just being forward with what I think I see and what I think I know.
The chemistry has been on full display this season. Pull up the teams socials for an inside look, from Duren and Beas crashing Cades postgame interview with All-Star praise to the teams pre-game handshakes in the tunnel, which reflect the antics and camaraderie of a close-knit group. Theres a scrappiness on defense that hasnt been felt for decades and the offense hums to the beat of everyone getting touches. Cades confidence in himselfand the grouphas only grown as he continues to lean on others.
Seeing the turnaround from where weve come from to where we are now, having the fresh start that we had this year with all the new people coming in, everything like that [brought confidence]. The work that I had put in up to that point had given me all the confidence already, as far as what I can bring to the table individually, Cunningham says. But then being able to lean on guys like Tobias, Malik, Tim, Coach. All those guys that have that experience, that brings a lot of confidence as well.
The 2024-25 season is just the beginning of Detroits new identity. There are more goals to reach. More accomplishments to share. More wins to be had. And yeah, Cade admits that this season has been a great start. Competitive hoops is back in the 313. And as he maps out the next phase of the Pistons persistent rise, he cant help but take in the change in the air. Theres a different level of satisfaction that has come withtrulyputting in the work. And hes finding it each time he glances into the home crowd at Little Caesars Arena.
Ive enjoyed watching the fans enjoy watching us play more than anything, Cunningham says. I can remember last season so many times, wed mess up, you look in the crowd and everybodys shaking their head. It was just sick. Now we have a big play or something, I look around and theres so much laughter. You can really see people having a good time. And that was one of the main things that I wanted to do coming to Detroit: start us getting back to winning.
Portraits by Matthew Coughlin.
