Detroit star puts himself at the top of the NBA: 'I can be the best basketball player in the world'

A generation of NBA legends is nearing the twilight of their careers. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and James Harden are among the players who have defined an era and are slowly approaching the end of their careers. In their place, others must step up, and one young star with the Detroit Pistons is ready to take on that challenge.

“I think I can be the best basketball player in the world. I think I’m on my way,” said Cade Cunningham during an interview with ESPN. “I want people to understand that, and that’s what I’m working to show people every time I play.”

The 23-year-old point guard is posting career-best numbers this season and has been one of the main reasons why the Pistons have significantly improved their performance compared to last year. Detroit has gone from a dreadful 14-68 record to tripling their wins this season, and they’re now close to securing a spot in the playoffs.

“Winning. I think that’s the main difference, for real,” said Cunningham about his transformation and that of the team. “It’s a lot of fun winning games. It’s not fun losing at all, so playing in meaningful games and constantly putting ourselves in a position to win has been a lot of fun this year.”

Cade Cunningham

Cunningham’s numbers

Detroit’s improvement this year mirrors Cade Cunningham’s individual performances. He had already posted his best season last year, even amid the team’s disappointing showing. But now, the guard has taken his game to another level, becoming one of the most interesting players in the league.

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Cunningham is averaging 25.7 points per game and 9.2 assists, logging 35.2 minutes on the court this season. These numbers are not only career highs for Cade, but also the best on the Pistons this season, showing the significant impact he has on the team.

Cunningham could win NBA’s Most Improved Player

Cunningham’s performances make him a strong contender for the league’s Most Improved Player award. He is considered the top favorite for the George Mikan trophy, surpassing other young talents like Dyson Daniels, Christian Braun, Tyler Herro, and Evan Mobley.

Given his evolution, Cunningham spoke about his relationship with the fans and how the criticism from previous seasons has now turned into praise. “There was a time where I didn’t give them much else to think about,” admitted the first overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft. “But I felt support since day one being here, though, and more than anything, I wanted to hold up my end of the bargain.”