Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Cade Cunningham

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

Cade Cunningham is a professional basketball player currently playing for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA. He was a highly-rated five-star recruit coming out of high school, having played at Bowie High School in Texas before transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida. Cunningham was considered one of the top players in the 2020 class and received national player of the year honors during his senior year, leading one of the best high school teams in history.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1944: Bob Kurland First Oklahoma State Player

In 1944 Bob Kurland was the first Oklahoma State player to earn the distinction since earning the consensus first-team All-American recognition.

1997: Grant Hill set triple-double record

In 1997, Grant Hill set the longest streak in Pistons franchise history.

2012: Oklahoma State last had a 5-star recruit

In 2012 Marcus Smart joined Oklahoma State, he was the last 5-star recruit to join before Cade Cunningham.

2013: Anthony Bennett scored few points

In 2013, Anthony Bennet had the fewest points scored in a no.1 pick's NBA debut, matching Cunningham's record.

February 2, 2019: Recorded 26 Points Against Oak Hill Academy

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: Committed to Oklahoma State

On November 5, 2019, Cade Cunningham announced his commitment to Oklahoma State, becoming the highest-ranked committed recruit in program history.

2019: Played for the United States at FIBA Under-19 World Cup

In 2019, Cade Cunningham played for the United States at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Heraklion, Greece, where he helped his team win the gold medal.

2019: Won Gold Medal at FIBA Under-19 World Cup

In 2019, Cade Cunningham won a gold medal with the United States at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup.

November 25, 2020: College Debut for Oklahoma State

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

2020: Rated Top Player in 2020 Class

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 after transferring to Montverde Academy.

February 27, 2021: Career-High 40 Points Against Oklahoma

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 in Big 12 Tournament Semifinals

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: Announced Entry into 2021 NBA Draft

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

2021: Drafted First Overall by Pistons

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

2021: Drafted by Detroit Pistons

In 2021, Cade Cunningham was the NBA first overall pick by the Detroit Pistons.

January 25, 2022: Recorded Stat Line Similar 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: Named MVP of Rising Stars Challenge

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

October 28, 2022: Scored Career-High 35 Points

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

October 25, 2023: Game-High 30 Points in Season Opener

On October 25, 2023, Cade Cunningham had a game-high 30 points and nine assists in the season opener against the Miami Heat.

July 10, 2024: Signed Contract Extension with Pistons

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

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

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: Triple-Double Against Toronto Raptors

On January 10, 2025, Cunningham had his 7th triple-double of the season in a 123–114 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

April 19, 2025: First Postseason Game

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