The 2021 NBA Draft Class has as many – if not than – more hyped than any other draft class in recent memory, and by far the majority of prospects have matched or exceeded expectations.
Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley and Raptors forward Scottie Barnes have each made hugely impressive starts and are in for an early-season showdown for Rookie of the Year and while Rockets guard Jalen Green is still trying to find his groove, he has created some surprising highlights that showcase his huge potential.
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Through the opening games of the season, all eyes were on the aforementioned rookie trio while overall No. 1 pick, Cade Cunningham, missed the Pistons’ first four games with an ankle injury during the course of the season. training camp.
Once Cunningham was fit enough to hit the floor, all eyes were on the top prospect for an NBA debut that no one remembers exactly.
The new Pistons franchise player scored two points with a 1/8th shot from the field and a 0/5 from three points, while also scoring seven rebounds and two assists in just 19 minutes of play to win. victory over Magic. Cunningham admits There was some jitteriness in the first game, but he was also expected to get very tired as he tried to feel the pace of the NBA game while also playing through his uncomfortable ankle.
His second game wasn’t much better, as he picked up just six points while shooting 2 of 14 from the field and 0/9 from 3 points in a heavy loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
In a league where fans expect instant production no matter the circumstances (especially for the top pick), someone on NBA Twitter has in fact called the 20-year-old a bust. after two games (!).
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If you had checked those guys out after Cunningham’s last few games, it’s safe to say they would have been pretty quiet.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FG% | 3P% | |
| The first five games | 12.6 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 3.4 | 28.4 | 22.2 |
| The last three matches | 20.0 | 7.3 | 6.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 44.0 | 33.3 |
His averages and shots have improved across the board, and Cunningham is starting to look exactly like the player he was predicted to become. Everything was said about him on scouting reports before the draft was starting to show up in his NBA game.
He is a capable shot maker who can go all the way to the perimeter and finish among the trees..
…or stop on a dime for a floating player or soft-touch player in the lane to keep defenders guessing.
He is also an excellent player, who can initiate attacks and create an easy look for his teammates by using the attention he draws from the opposing defense to create advantage for yourself.
Cunningham plays with an extremely high level of motivation and has a knack for making winning plays, and we’ve seen proof of that.
He didn’t have a monster game against the Raptors, but he scored eight of his 10 points in the final five minutes, including a couple of clutch shoves like the one above to help the Pistons win. He did the same against the Indiana Pacers, knocking out a few well-timed shots to send Detroit to another victory.
So what is starting to click?
Really, it all started with his inner finishing ability.
According to NBA statistics, through the first five games, Cunningham shot 43.8 percent in the penalty area and 27.8 percent in the paint (unlimited area). Over the last 5 matches, Cunningham is finishing much more efficiently, shooting 66.7% in the penalty area and 57.9% in the highlands (unlimited area).
He’s still taking his 3-pointer shot from the NBA range, but he’s improving there, too. He’s shot 20.7 percent on a 3-second break in his first five games, compared with 30.6 percent in his last five.
On top of that, Pistons head coach Dwane Casey loves the leadership he is seeing from Cunningham as he feels more comfortable, even comparing him to one of the great veteran ring champions. his previous.
“He’s a leader, like Kyle Lowry. He has that ‘it’ element,” Casey talks about his star rookie.
As Cunningham takes development to the next level, let this serve as a reminder that tweens and 20-year-olds shouldn’t be judged on a bad start or a rough period of the game. play.
With the #1 pick continuing at this trajectory, he’ll be back in the Rookie of the Year conversation shortly.
