Detroit Pistons look to Cade Cunningham as next star
DETROIT (BVM) — Despite their recent struggles, the Detroit Pistons are a franchise of pride and success. Whether it was the “Bad Boys” teams in the late 1980s or the star-studded championship squads of the early 2000s, Detroit is no stranger to the top of the NBA mountain.
But over the last decade, the Pistons have endured plenty of struggles time and again. After six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances, the Pistons failed to make it out of the first round in 2009. That would be the last time they saw the postseason until 2016. They would reach the playoffs once again as a No. 8 seed in 2019, only to be dominated in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Since then, the team has not recovered, winning just 20 games each of the past two seasons despite some optimism with Dwane Casey at the helm. Many draft picks have not gone as planned in the Motor City over the last several years, sending the franchise further down the ranks.
However, this summer, the Pistons finally had luck go their way, winning the NBA Draft Lottery and earning the first pick in last week’s NBA Draft. With a strong class and several bonafide stars coming out, the Pistons could not have landed the top pick in a better year. At No. 1 overall, Detroit selected a player who they hope is the next star to take them back to their championship heights: Cade Cunningham.
With the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons select @CadeCunningham_ from the @okstate. Welcome to the Motor City, Cade! #DetroitUp | @DraftKings pic.twitter.com/mN8quV3b8l
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) July 30, 2021
Cunningham has long been one of the top players in this draft class, and as last season went on, he emerged as the likely No. 1 selection come July. In his first and only season at Oklahoma State, the 6-foot-8 standout averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
The tremendous season earned Cunningham AP All-American first-team honors, while he also became just the fourth player ever to win both Big 12 Freshman of the Year and Big 12 Player of the Year in the same season.
The Texas native became the highest draft pick ever from Oklahoma State, and was also the Pistons’ highest pick since 1970, becoming the third No. 1 overall pick in franchise history.
“This was a very exciting night for our franchise, our fans and the city,” Pistons owner Tom Gores said after the draft. “We made great progress adding four talented young men. They are all high-character individuals that fit the culture and championship mentality we are creating.”
Rebuilding a team culture in Detroit is a top priority right now as well, and Cunningham fits that bill.
“I had the opportunity to spend time with Cade before the draft,” Gores added. “I could tell immediately that he’s not just an elite prospect, he’s an elite leader who will take our franchise to another level.”
New guy gets it. #NoBrakes | @CadeCunningham_ pic.twitter.com/9N9TaUSYjz
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) August 2, 2021
Cunningham’s consistent play particularly on the offensive side of the ball will hopefully help take the Pistons to that next level. Last season, the 20-win team failed to close out games, lacking a true shotmaker. His length on defense also allows him to guard most any position, giving the Pistons a two-way player with massive upside for years to come.
Joining Cunningham to Detroit are two second-round picks, each of which are former Big Ten players. Isaiah Livers was drafted at No. 42 overall out of the University of Michigan, while college basketball’s consensus player of the year, Luka Garza, was selected by the team at No. 52.
Former Florida State big man Balsa Koprivica was also acquired by Detroit in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets, who selected him at No. 57.
The four draft picks will join a young group that flashed some upside at times last season with talents such as Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart. But there is now one man who holds the keys to the franchise, and it’s Cunningham.
Last time the Pistons had the No. 1 pick, they selected Bob Lanier, a perennial All-Star for the team throughout the 1970s. In 1981, legendary guard Isiah Thomas was selected with the team’s No. 2 pick. Now, they hope Cunningham can have the same success, and he is already thinking about bringing this franchise back to the top through the roots the team, and the city of Detroit, have always had.
“The Detroit Pistons have always been about grit and working about what you have,” Cunningham said after he was drafted. “The Bad Boys, that’s what they were about.”
