Cade Cunningham shows potential in Summer League debut
Despite struggling with his outside shot against OKC, Cade Cunnigham plays with poise and patience.
LAS VEGAS — The first two shots popped the bottom of the net, but Cade Cunningham knew better than to make Sunday’s MGM Resorts Summer League debut about anything more than gradual improvement.
“Cunningham believes that the game offered numerous learning opportunities, which is the primary objective of any initial game. The focus now is to continue building on this experience,” he said.
The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s Draft, Cunningham scored 12 points to go with six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a pair of blocks in Detroit’s 76-72 loss to sixth pick Josh Giddey and the Oklahoma City Thunder, as the Pistons opened play at the 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League.
Giddey dribbled past Cunningham for a two-handed jam to score OKC’s first points of the night. It was his lone bucket on 1-of-3 shooting in five minutes before leaving with a sprained left ankle suffered in the game’s opening moments.
Meanwhile, Cunningham scored his first points with a corner 3-pointer and followed it up with another 3 from 26 feet out—both assisted by Killian Hayes. This helped Detroit take an early 12-4 lead.
“Cunningham stated, “They both felt great. I entered the game full of confidence, prepared to shoot, and play. Watching the first two shots hit their mark was a satisfying feeling. However, the goal now is to build upon that. I’m unsure whether I made another shot after that. There’s always something to be learned from it.”
Indeed, Cunningham didn’t make another 3 after his initial two, ending with a 2 for 7 from range and 5 for 17 from the field. He also committed the most turnovers in the game, a total of five.
While working to acclimate himself to the NBA game, the 19-year-old Cunningham also expressed some recognition of the importance of showing deference toward teammates with their own developmental goals. Rising second-year man Saddiq Bey, the 19th pick in 2020, led the Pistons with a team-high 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting (2 of 4 from 3-point range), while Tyler Cook chipped in 11.
Cunningham shared his understanding of his teammates’ viewpoint regarding the arrival of the No. 1 pick. He emphasized his desire not to dominate the team with a self-centered persona, but to respect their individual spaces and growth. Singling out Saddiq, a first-team All-Rookie, he expressed his hopes for him to continue to improve. For Cunningham, his goal is to contribute by making plays, being a supportive teammate, and making a significant impact on the team.
Game Recap: Thunder 76, Pistons 72
Bey quickly recognized Cunningham’s potential contribution to the upcoming season. He highlighted the leadership qualities and versatility that the rookie has demonstrated during the team’s brief time together.
“Bey commended him for his exceptional leadership skills at such a young age. He expressed confidence in his versatility, particularly in his ability to play and guard multiple positions. Bey believes these skills will be crucial to their team and will be utilized frequently. He also mentioned the team’s defense and length as their strength. He concluded by affirming that he has been adapting well so far.”
J.D. Dubois, the Pistons’ Summer League coach, commented on Cade’s first game and the team’s overall first game. He noticed players attempting to use the correct strategies, moving the ball effectively, striving for unity, and communicating defensively. Dubois emphasized the need for not only Cade but the entire team to maintain this level of play throughout the full 40 minutes.
More familiarity should help as the Pistons move on to face No. 2 pick Jalen Green and the Houston Rockets on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).
“Putting on an NBA jersey for the first time was enjoyable,” stated Cunningham. “Obviously, we were hoping for a victory. More importantly, we have a shared mindset about the future of this team. The next step is to understand each other better on the court. We haven’t had much playtime together so far, but there’s plenty of time for growth and development. We’re not going to get discouraged by a single game.”
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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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