Cade Cunningham is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons. Widely regarded as a top prospect, he was a consensus five-star recruit out of high school. He led Montverde Academy to a national championship his senior year and earned National Player of the Year honors.
1944: Oklahoma State's Last Consensus First-Team All-American
Before Cade Cunningham in 2021, the last Oklahoma State player to be named a consensus first-team All-American was Bob Kurland, who achieved the honor from 1944 to 1946.
September 25, 2001: Birth of Cade Cunningham
Cade Parker Cunningham was born on September 25, 2001.
2012: Oklahoma State's Last Five-Star Recruit
Prior to Cade Cunningham's commitment in 2019, Oklahoma State's last five-star recruit was Marcus Smart in 2012.
2013: Low-Scoring Debut Compared to Anthony Bennett
Cade Cunningham's NBA debut in 2021 saw him score only two points, the lowest for a No. 1 pick since Anthony Bennett, who also scored two points in his debut in 2013.
December 2017: Injury During Sophomore Season
In December 2017, during his sophomore year of high school, Cade Cunningham suffered an injury while attempting a dunk in a tournament.
2018: Birth of Cunningham's Daughter
Cunningham's daughter, Riley, was born in 2018.
February 2, 2019: Impressive Performance at National Hoopfest
Cade Cunningham showcased his skills at the National Hoopfest tournament on February 2, 2019, recording 26 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds against Oak Hill Academy.
November 5, 2019: Commitment to Oklahoma State University
On November 5, 2019, Cade Cunningham announced his commitment to play college basketball for Oklahoma State University.
2019: International Success with USA Basketball
Cade Cunningham represented the United States at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup and won a gold medal.
2019: Cunningham Becomes Vegan
Cunningham adopted a vegan lifestyle in 2019.
2019: FIBA Under-19 World Cup Championship
In 2019, Cunningham led the United States to a gold medal victory at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup. He showcased an impressive performance throughout the tournament, averaging 11.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game. His leadership culminated in the finals, where he led all scorers with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, securing a 93-79 win against Mali.
June 2020: Decision to Play Despite Postseason Ban
In June 2020, Cade Cunningham decided to honor his commitment to Oklahoma State and play for the team despite the NCAA imposing a postseason ban on the program.
November 25, 2020: College Debut and Double-Double
Cade Cunningham made his college debut for Oklahoma State on November 25, 2020, achieving a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a win against UT Arlington.
2020: High School Career and National Recognition
In 2020, Cade Cunningham was a top-ranked high school basketball player, considered one of the best in his class. He led his team to a highly successful season and earned national player of the year recognition.
February 27, 2021: Career-High Performance Against Oklahoma
On February 27, 2021, Cade Cunningham had a career-high 40 points and 11 rebounds in a game against the University of Oklahoma, earning him Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week honors.
March 12, 2021: Upset Victory in Big 12 Tournament
Cade Cunningham played a key role in Oklahoma State's upset win against Baylor in the Big 12 tournament semifinals on March 12, 2021.
April 1, 2021: Declaration for the NBA Draft
Cade Cunningham announced his decision to enter the 2021 NBA draft on April 1, 2021, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
2021: NBA Debut and Early Career Milestones
Cade Cunningham made his NBA debut in 2021. Despite an ankle injury initially sidelining him, he quickly began setting records, becoming the youngest player to achieve specific stat lines and the youngest Piston to record a triple-double.
2021: Number One NBA Draft Pick
Cade Cunningham was selected as the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons.
January 25, 2022: Historic Stat Line Matching Michael Jordan
On January 25, 2022, Cade Cunningham recorded a stat line of 34 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, four blocks, and two steals, making him the only rookie besides Michael Jordan in NBA history to achieve this.
February 18, 2022: Rising Stars Challenge MVP
Cade Cunningham was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Rising Stars Challenge during the NBA All-Star Weekend on February 18, 2022.
October 28, 2022: Career-High Scoring Night
Cade Cunningham achieved a career-high 35 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks on October 28, 2022, despite the Pistons' loss.
October 25, 2023: Season Opener Against Miami Heat
On October 25, 2023, Cunningham started the 2023-24 season with a game-high 30 points and 9 assists against the Miami Heat. Despite his efforts, the Pistons lost 102-103, with Cunningham missing a last-second shot to win the game.