Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Cade Cunningham

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Cade Cunningham made an impact.

Cade Cunningham is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA. He was a consensus five-star recruit coming out of high school, where he played at Bowie High School before transferring to Montverde Academy. As a senior, he received national player of the year recognition, cementing his status as one of the top players in the 2020 class.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1944: All-American honor comparison

After his freshman season, Cade Cunningham was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. He was the first Oklahoma State player to earn the distinction since Bob Kurland in 1944.

1997: Tying Grant Hill's Triple-Double Streak

In November 2024, Cade Cunningham recorded a triple-double in his third consecutive game, tying him with Grant Hill's streak from April 11–14, 1997, as the longest such streak in Pistons franchise history.

February 2, 2019: National Hoopfest Performance

On February 2, 2019, at the National Hoopfest tournament, Cade Cunningham recorded 26 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds in a 76–51 win against Oak Hill Academy.

November 5, 2019: Commitment to Oklahoma State

On November 5, 2019, Cade Cunningham announced his commitment to play college basketball for Oklahoma State.

2019: FIBA Under-19 World Cup Gold Medal

In 2019, Cade Cunningham played for the United States at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Heraklion, Greece, where he averaged 11.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game and helped his team win the gold medal.

June 2020: Decision to Stay at Oklahoma State Despite Postseason Ban

In June 2020, after the NCAA imposed a postseason ban on Oklahoma State, Cade Cunningham announced on June 22 that he would still play for the team.

November 25, 2020: Oklahoma State Debut

On November 25, 2020, Cade Cunningham debuted for Oklahoma State, recording 21 points and 10 rebounds in a 75–68 win over UT Arlington.

2020: Rated as Top Recruit

In 2020, Cade Cunningham was rated as a consensus five-star recruit and among the top players in the 2020 class by major recruiting services.

February 27, 2021: Career-High 40 Points

On February 27, 2021, Cade Cunningham posted a career-high 40 points and 11 rebounds in a 94–90 overtime win against Oklahoma.

March 12, 2021: Upset Win Against Baylor

On March 12, 2021, Cade Cunningham posted 25 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in an 83–74 upset win against top-seeded Baylor in the Big 12 tournament semifinals.

April 1, 2021: Declared for NBA Draft

On April 1, 2021, Cade Cunningham announced that he would enter the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.

2021: Drafted by Detroit Pistons

In 2021, Cade Cunningham was drafted with the first overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons.

2021: NBA First Overall Pick

In 2021, Cade Cunningham was selected as the NBA first overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA draft.

January 25, 2022: Stat Line Comparison to Michael Jordan

On January 25, 2022, Cade Cunningham recorded 34 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, four blocks, and two steals, joining Michael Jordan as the only rookies in NBA history to post such a stat line.

February 18, 2022: Rising Stars Challenge MVP

On February 18, 2022, Cade Cunningham was named MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge.

October 28, 2022: Career-High 35 Points

On October 28, 2022, Cade Cunningham scored a career-high 35 points alongside nine rebounds and eight assists in a 132–116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

October 25, 2023: Season Opener Performance

On October 25, 2023, in the 2023–24 season opener, Cade Cunningham had a game-high 30 points and nine assists in a 103–102 loss to the Miami Heat.

July 10, 2024: Contract Extension with Pistons

On July 10, 2024, the Pistons signed Cade Cunningham to a five-year, $224 million contract extension.

November 8, 2024: Triple-Double and Game-Winning Shot

On November 8, 2024, Cade Cunningham put up a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists alongside a game-winning floater in a 122–121 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

January 10, 2025: 7th Triple-Double of the Season

On January 10, 2025, Cade Cunningham had his 7th triple-double of the season in a 123–114 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He had 22 points, 17 assists and 10 rebounds.

April 19, 2025: First Postseason Game and Triple-Double

On April 19, 2025, Cade Cunningham played his first postseason game against the New York Knicks, recording 21 points, 12 assists, and six rebounds in a 112–123 loss. On April 19, in Game 4, Cunningham had 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first playoff triple-double and the third in franchise history in a 94–93 loss against the New York Knicks.

November 1, 2025: Tying Career-High Assists

On November 1, 2025, Cade Cunningham tied a career-high with 18 assists, along with 21 points, six rebounds, and three steals, in a 122–110 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

November 2025: Nike Endorsement Deal

In November 2025, Cade Cunningham re-signed with Nike, reaching a six-year endorsement agreement, and he would receive his own signature shoe with the brand.