Headline: Cade Cunningham Shines as Dual Threat, Elevating Pistons Playoff Hopes with Unmatched Facilitation

Cade Cunningham’s journey to becoming a star has been one of the most compelling narratives in the NBA this season. Amidst his impressive scoring displays and critical game-winning moments — such as his decisive shot against the Heat on Wednesday — his remarkable playmaking skills might not be getting the recognition they deserve.

Throughout his four-year tenure in the NBA, Cunningham has consistently taken on the role of point guard, even as a gifted scorer. However, during the 2024-25 season, he has significantly enhanced his passing that has propelled the Pistons towards a possible playoff spot. Currently, he is notching a career-best average of 9.3 assists per game, placing him third in the league, behind only two elite facilitators, Trae Young and Nikola Jokić.

When examining the statistics, Cunningham’s growth as a passer has been a steady progression since his debut in the 2021-22 season. Starting with an average of 5.6 assists in his rookie year, he raised that to 6.0 in his second season despite being limited to just 12 games due to injury. Last season, he averaged 7.5 assists, and this year, he has made another significant jump, averaging nearly two additional assists per game.

The All-Star point guard has been a key factor in the Pistons’ resurgence in the Eastern Conference. However, his contributions go beyond merely generating offense for his teammates. Cunningham is also achieving career highs in points per game (25.6), blocks per game (0.8), three-pointers made (2.1), and shooting percentage (46.1), among others. While his turnover rate has increased, this trend is a natural outcome of his elevated usage.

Cunningham’s emergence aligns with the Pistons enjoying their best season in years. They have already exceeded their win totals from the previous two seasons and are now aiming to secure a spot as high as the fourth seed in the East. While he has already established himself as a capable scorer, his enhanced role as a facilitator has taken his performance to new heights.