Cade Cunningham was recently named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in October and November. He averaged 29 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds per game in that span while establishing himself as one of the league's brightest young stars. At age 24, Cade's first Player of the Month honor will be a stepping stone to even greater heights.
Cade is establishing himself as one of the league's best
Cade's brilliance is leading to wins as the Pistons have started 16-4. Many of these games have gone down to the clutch, where Cade has been essential to closing out games. He's been one of the NBA's best players this season in the fourth quarter and the clutch. His scoring ramps up even more in the final moments of the game, and teams find it hard to game plan against him.
Even more impressive for Cade is the fact that he lacks a true costar. Although Jalen Duren has drastically improved his scoring this season, he's still not a true star that can consistently create his own offense. Instead, Cade's playmaking fuels much of Duren's offense, as well as easy looks for the rest of his teammates.
Cade's production without a reliable supporting cast on offense has been impressive. His elite combination of scoring (8th in the league in points per game) and playmaking (2nd in the league in assists per game) have established him as a premier offensive engine. He's shown the ability to punish defenses regardless of how they guard him, even without many shooters next to him.
He also produces on both ends, adding value that other stars can't necessarily provide. In his most recent game against the Hawks, Cade had a career-high 6 steals and 3 blocks. His defensive playmaking from the point guard position, while serving as the team's offensive hub, have elevated the Pistons to a top defense. Maintaining that elite defense is key to the Pistons' success and Cade's contributions to it are essential.
A trade for another star could allow Cade to shine even more with better efficiency and continued wins. He's already leading the Pistons to the East's top seed, but adding more firepower can lead to easier victories and preserve him over the long regular season. The high workload of minutes and intensity this season could come back to fatigue him come playoff time.
For now, Cade is quickly on his way up the NBA ladder. Being recognized as the East's top player for a whole month and change proves that the league is finally paying attention. Although Cade has been a star for years, his continued improvements and the Pistons' team success is finally getting him the respect he deserves.