Cade Cunningham is no stranger to making history for the Detroit Pistons this season and he did it again last night in a tough home loss to the Denver Nuggets.
He made team history in the loss to Utah when he joined Isiah Thomas and Grant Hill in an exclusive Pistons’ club for rookies.
But Cade didn’t stop there. After declaring himself the best rookie in the NBA (he’s right), Cunningham has backed it up with three of his best games of the season, including last night, when he scored 34 points and added eight rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and two steals in the loss.
In case you are wondering, he is the only rookie other than Michael Jordan to have such a game since 1973.
.@CadeCunningham_ joins Michael Jordan as the only rookies with 𝟯𝟬+ 𝗽𝘁𝘀, 𝟴 𝗿𝗲𝗯, 𝟴 𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟰 𝗯𝗹𝗸 in a game since 1973-74 🔥
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 26, 2022
(via Elias Sports) pic.twitter.com/R7RwxQPAm0
Any time you can join Michael Jordan on a statistical list you know you are doing something right, but that isn’t the only history Cade Cunningham made last night.
Cade Cunningham putting himself in elite rookie company
If we are being pedantic, Cade Cunningham is the only rookie in NBA history to have the minimums in six categories that he had against the Nuggets.
Cade Cunningham finished with 34 points including 6 3FGM to go along with 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks tonight vs. DEN. He is the only player in NBA history to reach all those minimums in a single game. #Pistons
— Pistons PR (@Pistons_PR) January 26, 2022
(via @bball_ref)
He’s also the youngest Piston to ever have a 30/5/5 game, supplanting Isiah Thomas:
Cade Cunningham tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 26, 2022
34 PTS (career high)
8 REB
8 AST
6-9 3P
He passes Isiah Thomas as the youngest Piston ever with a 30/5/5 game. pic.twitter.com/TYHNDfs2Gm
He’s also the first rookie in 40 seasons to lead his team in all six major statistical categories, joining both Jordan and Allen Iverson:
Cade Cunningham finished with 34 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks and 6 3-pt FG.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 26, 2022
He’s the 3rd rookie in the last 40 seasons to lead his team in all 6 categories in a game, along with Michael Jordan (Jan. 19, 1985) and Allen Iverson (Nov. 23, 1996) pic.twitter.com/t0ok4uvWdU
I’d also like to mention that Cade Cunningham did this without getting a single free-throw attempt, which makes it even more impressive, as there is no way Jordan ever scored over 30 without going to the line.
Cunningham was defending all over the court, guarding everyone from point guard to center Nikola Jokic and holding his own.
It really was one of the most impressive all-around games I’ve ever watched a rookie have and I am an old-timer who watched all of these guys play in real time.
Cade Cunningham is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year, as there is not another guy in his class who does more for his team and can have these types of nights filing the stat sheet.