The Detroit Pistons' run to the 2025 playoffs was a feat in itself, but what made it even more incredible was the season before, when the team finished with a 14-68 record. There was a historic 28-game losing streak, one that was physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing for fans to witness. It ended up being worth it, watching what Cade Cunningham and the Pistons did last season.
Cunningham wants to win; he wants to win in Detroit. He told Yahoo Sports that he knew there had "been a lot of tough times, a lot of bad basketball." Cunningham wants to change that, and last season, he and the Pistons did just that.
He averaged a career-high 26.1 points, 9.1 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game, shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 35.6% from three in 70 games. Cunningham's season resulted in his first All-Star and All-NBA nod.
The Pistons took the Knicks to a six-game series in the first round of the playoffs, winning their first postseason game since 2008 in the process. Cunningham starred in his first of what should be many playoff appearances.
Detroit should secure its second consecutive playoff appearance next season, the first time that will have happened since 2009. The East is the weaker conference (by a wide margin), increasing the Pistons' chances of another top-six finish. Not just that, but they can climb the standings from their sixth-place finish last season.
Cunningham has guided the Pistons back to their old winning ways
Cunningham had a strong rookie season, but in his second season in the league, he played only 12 games, undergoing season-ending surgery on his left shin in December. He returned during the 2023-24 season, averaging what was then a career-high 22.7 points and 7.5 assists per game in 62 contests, but it happened during a historic season, for all the wrong reasons.
It's fair to say that nobody thought Cunningham, who will turn 24 later this month, would be the player and leader he is today. Not this soon. He's been through a lot of adversity already — from his shin surgery to new head coaches — but somehow, he's gotten better through it all.
Cunningham and Detroit are now in a great position, led by head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, to make noise for years to come with their young team. The experience they gained last season, particularly in the playoffs, will pay off tremendously.
Cunningham is a winner, and in turn, he's helped turn Detroit back into a winner. What's better than that? Technically speaking, a championship, but be patient. One could come sooner than anyone ever expected after watching the travesty that was the 2023-24 season.
It pays to have one of the best players in the league.