Cade Cunningham bust through the scene early in high school, and reinforced his sky-high expectations after a strong freshman collegiate season.
Cade Cunningham 2021 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Cunningham was ranked as a top-two player throughout the country in his senior year for Montverde Academy and ultimately committed to joining Oklahoma State.
His first collegiate game came versus his hometown college, playing against the University of Texas at Arlington. He burst onto the scene, finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a win.
Cunningham consistently tore up Big 12 and non-conference opponents and eventually won Big 12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. He joins Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, and Marcus Smart as the only players to win both awards during the same season. He’s in good company, to say the least.
Cunningham finished the season with averages of 20.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He also shot a strong 40% from deep.
Strengths
First of all, Cunningham’s size and length set him apart as a top-tier point guard option. He looks like a forward on the floor but runs play flawlessly. He has the size in between other point guards like Luka Doncic and Lonzo Ball.
Cunningham stays in control of the game. He’s a master floor general and runs the pick-and-roll like no other. He draws a ton of attention on the floor due to his shooting and slashing ability, which also allows him to find wide-open teammates. Cunningham has the potential to be an assist machine while also scoring 20+ points every game.
He also knows he’s that good. Some may see this as a red flag, but Cunningham has the utmost confidence in his game. He doesn’t get distracted and is always up for the challenge.
Weaknesses
There aren’t many weaknesses in Cunningham’s game as he has ideal size and is as polished as they come offensively.
Due to him being Oklahoma State’s main star, Cunningham rarely did not have the ball in his hands. It remains to be seen what he can do off the ball, but his slashing and shooting abilities suggest he can succeed in this respect.
Additionally, Cunningham can improve defensively. With his height and length, this will surely come in time.
NBA Comparison for Cade Cunningham
Doncic is the best comparison for Cunningham. Doncic has already ascended into major superstar levels in the NBA, so comparisons may be pre-mature for now, but Cunningham plays in a similar fashion.
2021 NBA Draft Projection
Cunningham is a surefire top-three pick and is the player most likely to be selected with the number one overall pick currently held by the Detroit Pistons.
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