Cade Cunningham earns first Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors
Dec 23, 2024
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Cunningham currently ranks third in the NBA in assists Cade Cunningham is having a breakout year in season No. 4, and the NBA world is starting to take notice. Cunningham was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week behind averages of 27 points, 5.3 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 2.3 blocks, 1 steal, and a record of 2-1 for his team.
It was the first time Cunningham received the honor and the first time a Pistons player earned the recognition since Saddiq Bey was named POTW in the 2020-21 season.
On the season, Cunningham is averaging 24 points, 7.1 rebounds and 9.7 assists. He is also shooting a career-best from two-point and three-point distances.
During the week, the Pistons beat the Miami Heat in overtime in a game that saw Cade record his sixth triple-double of the season, including a career-high 18 assists. Then he scored a lot in a loss to the Utah Jazz we’d rather not think about again. His most recent performance was a 28-point, 13-assist, four-stock game in a win against the Phoenix Suns.
Cunningham is in the midst of the 18th season in NBA history of at least 23 points, nine assists and seven rebounds per game.
After a disastrous year three that saw his team win just 14 games and many questioning Cunningham’s long-term potential as a centerpiece of an offense or an NBA star, Cade has silenced many doubters in the first quarter of his fourth season.
Detroit already has 12 wins on the season. That means the Pistons could lose 43 games in a row and still be ahead of last year’s pace.
Next up for Cade is hopefully leading the franchise’s first winning streak of at least four games since 2019 and the Pistons’ first All-Star representative, also since 2019.