Detroit Pistons: 3 keys to Cade Cunningham winning Rookie of the Year

Detroit Pistons: Outdueling his fellow rookies is a key to Cade Cunningham’s Rookie of the Year chances

For Cade Cunningham to win the Rookie of the Year award, he is going to have to outduel other rookies, when the Pistons match up against them.

Winning the individual games would be helpful for the team, but specifically for the Rookie of the Year race, Cunningham just has to outplay the opponents’ star rookie  when they face each other head-to-head.

Twice Cunningham will match up against Jalen Green and the Rockets. Four times he will play Jalen Suggs and the Magic. He will battle with Evan Mobley and the division rival Cavaliers four times as well.

If Cunningham does not only play well in these games, but dominates in them, he will make a strong case for Rookie of the Year honors.  Outplaying the other rookies that are in the race for the award will showcase why he is the top rookie in the league.

Outdueling Green, in particular, will be especially important. Green currently holds the second-highest odds for the Rookie of the Year award. Like Cunningham, he is being set up to take charge of his new team right away.

The pair also have the makings of a rivalry, following Green’s comments on Detroit passing on him in the draft in favor of Cunningham.

Cunningham does not have to be perfect to win Rookie of the Year. Not every game has to be a dominant performance. He just needs to play his game. The 19-year-old has all of the talent and skill he needs to prove himself as the best rookie in the league this season.

Yes, he will need to have favorable health. Yes, he will need to fight through the rookie wall. Yes, he needs to outduel other star rookies.

But most importantly, Cunningham needs to play the game his way. If he can have a healthy and consistent season, there is not doubt Cunningham can run away with the Rookie of the Year award.