Detroit Pistons: Contemporary comparisons for Cade Cunningham
By Indy Perro
Detroit Pistons: Contemporary comparisons for Cade Cunningham
Lonzo Ball
It wasn’t that long ago that Lonzo Ball was expected to be the future of the Lakers. Unfortunately, injuries derailed the potential he flashed when he first arrived in Chicago. As a Detroit fan, I saw the possibilities in a Chicago team with Ball, LaVine, DeRozan, and Vucevic in the starting five, and I would’ve enjoyed watching the Detroit Pistons match up against such an exciting rival.
While things haven’t worked out in the Windy City, the eldest Ball was a top-notch defender who blunted the point of the opponent’s attack and effectively distributed the ball to talented teammates. For a brief moment, it appeared Ball had come into his own on a team that put him in a position to succeed.
Cunningham has the physical gifts to defend at Ball’s level, and he should be able to distribute the ball as well if not better. Cunningham’s scoring should take second place to his ability to set up his teammates, but he should score a few more points per game than Ball, who never averaged more than 14.6.
In other words, while Ball is an excellent comparison for Cunningham’s gifts, Motor Cade has a higher ceiling.