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 with the Detroit Pistons in the NBA. He was a consensus five-star recruit coming out of high school, playing at Bowie High School before transferring to Montverde Academy. His senior year saw him lead one of the top high school teams in the nation and earn national player of the year honors.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1944: Bob Kurland Earns All-American Distinction

Since 1944, Cade Cunningham was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. Before Cade Cunningham, Bob Kurland (1944–46) earned the distinction.

February 2, 2019: Strong Performance at National Hoopfest Tournament

On February 2, 2019, at the National Hoopfest tournament, Cade Cunningham scored 26 points, with nine assists and seven rebounds, contributing to a 76–51 victory for Montverde Academy against Oak Hill Academy.

November 5, 2019: Commitment to Oklahoma State

On November 5, 2019, Cade Cunningham committed to playing college basketball for Oklahoma State, becoming the highest-ranked recruit in the program's history.

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, averaging 11.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game and helped the team win a gold medal.

November 25, 2020: College Debut for Oklahoma State

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

February 27, 2021: Career-High Performance Against Oklahoma

On February 27, 2021, Cade Cunningham achieved a career-high 40 points and 11 rebounds in a 94–90 overtime win against Oklahoma, earning him Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week honors.

March 12, 2021: Upset Win Against Baylor in Big 12 Tournament Semifinals

On March 12, 2021, Cade Cunningham scored 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: NBA Draft Entry

On April 1, 2021, Cade Cunningham announced his decision to enter the 2021 NBA draft, foregoing his remaining college eligibility and widely regarded as the consensus number one pick.

2021: Drafted First Overall by Detroit Pistons

In 2021, Cade Cunningham was drafted with the first overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, marking the start of his professional career.

2021: NBA First Overall Pick

In 2021, Cade Cunningham was selected as the first overall pick in the NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, a significant milestone in his career.

January 25, 2022: Stat Line Similar to Michael Jordan

On January 25, 2022, Cade Cunningham recorded 34 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, four blocks, and two steals in a game against the Denver Nuggets, joining Michael Jordan as the only rookies in NBA history to achieve 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, recognizing his performance and contribution during the event.

October 28, 2022: Career-High 35 Points vs. Atlanta Hawks

On October 28, 2022, Cade Cunningham scored a career-high 35 points, along with nine rebounds and eight assists, in a game against the Atlanta Hawks.

July 10, 2024: Contract Extension with the Pistons

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

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

On November 8, 2024, Cade Cunningham recorded a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists, including 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, achieving 22 points, 17 assists, and 10 rebounds in a 123–114 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

April 19, 2025: First Postseason Game

On April 19, 2025, Cade Cunningham played his first postseason game against the New York Knicks, recording 21 points, 12 assists, and 6 rebounds in a 112–123 loss.

2025: NBA All-Star Selection and All-NBA Team

In 2025, Cade Cunningham was named an NBA All-Star and selected to an All-NBA Team for the first time, recognizing his performance and contribution to the league.