All eyes were on Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons during NBA Summer League and the number one pick did not disappoint.
Cunningham sat for the last two Summer League games but prior to that averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game for the Detroit Pistons.
He also shot 50 percent from 3-point range on 8.7 attempts per game, so the rookie was strong in just about every area of the game.
We all knew Cade Cunningham was good, but there are specific aspects of his game that I hadn’t seen first hand and Cunningham pretty much checked all of the boxes for what we wanted to see.
Here are three things I learned about Cade Cunningham from Summer League.
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham can shoot
Ok, so Cunningham is not likely to shoot 50 percent from 3-point range on 8.7 attempts per game, but he showed that he can absolutely stroke it from downtown.
I knew Cunningham was a 40 percent shooter, but I was impressed with his quick release and ability to shoot it off the catch as well as off the dribble.
Here he is crossing over Jalen Green before draining the 3-pointer:
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1425276552690868226
Cunningham knocked down seven of them against the Knicks, showing great form, a quick release and that he is not afraid to let it fly.
I think it is very possible we will see Cunningham have a few Steph Curry-like games where he gets hot and cannot be stopped.
With his height and quick release, Cunningham is going to be difficult to defend on the perimeter. He might not be the quickest player but he is smart and knows how to get into his spots on or off the ball.
Cunningham is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year and we saw why, as he can absolutely shoot the rock and is going to have nights where he knocks down 10-11 from long range and brings the roof down in Little Caesar’s Arena.
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham is a leader
Cade Cunningham has often drawn comparisons to LeBron James, as he is a big playmaker who can do a little of everything.
It is way too early to say he’s anywhere near LeBron, but he does share one quality with him that is promising and that is his vocal leadership.
Watching Cunningham in Summer League did not feel like watching a rookie, as he was yelling out defensive assignments, vocally calling out switches and encouraging his teammates whether he was on the floor on the bench.
His natural leadership did remind me a lot of LeBron James, who also came into the league as a mature teenager ready to lead.
https://twitter.com/FanSided/status/1425277377899229187
Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart are more of the “lead by example” type guys, so I expect Cunningham to be the vocal leader on the floor, the guy who takes control of the huddle and takes responsibility when things go wrong.
You couldn’t want much more out of a number one pick, especially since Cunningham has said all of the right things and mostly spent his time in the gym instead of running his mouth on social media like number two pick Jalen Green.
I would rather have the guy who is happy to be where he is rather than the one who can’t shut up about where he isn’t.
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham needs shooters
Cade Cunningham’s ability to make plays and set up teammates was clear from the get-go, but you would’t know it from his paltry assist numbers.
Cunningham averaged just 2.3 assists per game in Summer League, but it wasn’t for lack of effort, his teammates just didn’t knock them down.
As was the case during his college career, Cunningham often set teammates up for wide open shots that they simply didn’t make.
Hopefully, when guys like Kelly Olynyk, Jerami Grant and Saddiq Bey are surrounding Cunningham full time, some of these potential assists will turn into the real thing, but shooting is something we are going to be talking about all season, as the Pistons still lack it, especially off the bench.
It was a great start for Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons and I can’t wait to see how these things carry over to when the games count and Cunningham has more weapons around him.