It’s been a rough season for the Detroit Pistons. They’ve lost more than 50 games. But, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are definitely some positives here. One of those positives is star point guard Cade Cunningham. He actually hit a career milestone on Thursday (March 7) during the team’s 118-112 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
The win over the Nets marks the Pistons’ 10th win of the season. The team was led by Cade Cunningham with his 32 points, 11 assists and a closeout right when things got dicey at the end. Another Pistons star, Jaden Ivey, also had a huge game. He scored a game-high 34 points and clocked six three-pointers.
Cunningham’s performance made him the sixth-fastest player in NBA history to score 2,500 career points and dish 800 assists. Cunningham racked up those numbers in 128 games, putting him only behind Oscar Robertson (83 games), Allen Iverson (111), Luka Doncic (114), Trae Young (114) and LeBron James (123).
Following the game, reporters asked Cunningham about this huge milestone. He was super happy, as he should be, and he thanked God along with his teammates and coaching staff.
“All glory to God, man. That’s the main thing,” he said. “The training staff. Everybody that helps keeps me healthy,” Cunningham said. “My support system just cheering me on, encouraging me and being there for me in dark times. My teammates/coaches. I’m just thankful.”
It’s hard to believe, but the former No. 1 pick played just 12 games last year. This season is a totally different story. He’s been on the court every night, with head coach Monty Williams relying on him more than anyone else on the team. In the 52 games he’s played, he’s averaged 22.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 7.5 APG.
Speaking about the win, Williams chimed in, talking about how he alternated Cunningham and Ivey during the game. He said that, “We have a debate, and it’s me vs. me.”
“I think about it all the time: Playing (Cunningham) 38 minutes every night is not something that we want to do, but tonight I felt like he needed to stay with that group longer to keep the momentum in the third,” Williams said. “And then the group in the fourth quarter had to just hold it down until we could bring those guys back. It was just a gut (feeling) to leave him out there, and he had it going. And he draws a ton of attention.”
He added, “But just leaving (Cunningham) out there, I felt like we needed an anchor to settle that group a bit, especially when I started making subs.”
Moving onto Ivey, when asked about his big game, he gave all the credit to God. It seems like a theme among these young Pistons players.
“I give all the credit to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me these gifts to be able to glorify Him in Heaven,” Ivey said after the game.
Williams has also mentioned God in his pressers. I remember earlier in the season, after a too-close loss, Williams saying how frustrated he was and that it was a moment when you ask, “Why, God? Why?” Then he said that in the end, he thinks God isn’t concerned with winning or losing games, but how you handle those wins and loses.
As a person of faith, I don’t think there’s any better way to put it.
Next up, the Detroit Pistons will host the Dallas Mavericks at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday (March 9) at 7 p.m.