Detroit Pistons: Best moments from a “boring” media day

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham and the city of Detroit

“I’m excited to be playing for a city that’s excited for me.” -Cade Cunningham

It’s been a long time since the city of Detroit had a superstar athlete to get behind, so there are plenty of reasons for the city to be excited.

But Cade has a point, as he has reason to be excited too, as he is coming to a city that loves sports but has a clean slate for him to become an icon.

Unlike some sports towns that have had more recent success, Cunningham is coming to a place that is desperate for something to cheer for and if he can provide that, they’ll be building statues of him someday outside of Little Caesar’s Arena.

Cade has the chance to be that guy for a whole generation of new fans who weren’t alive the last time the Pistons were a contender. Other than winning, there is really only one way to win over the city of Detroit and former legend Grant Hill nailed it.

“It’s a city that I think appreciates effort and I think that’s who he is. That’s in his DNA. Come out, lunch pail, work hard and compete every time you’re on the floor.”  -Grant Hill

Grant Hill is one of the players Cade Cunningham gets compared to, and Hill also understands what it takes to win over the city of Detroit.

I sometimes get bored of the reductionist view that Detroit is “just” a blue-collar city, but when it comes to sports, it’s true that we appreciate effort and hard work.

That’s why last year’s team was extremely popular among fans even though they only won 20 games. They didn’t win much, but they put in the effort every night and we’ve seen how effort can be the foundation of something special.

I think Cade Cunningham is that guy and will give the kind of effort that all fans appreciate, not just those in Detroit, which will not only endear him to fans but hopefully drag the Pistons out of their spiral of mediocrity.