{"id":141228,"date":"2025-05-23T22:54:16","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T02:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=141228"},"modified":"2025-05-23T22:56:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T02:56:29","slug":"cade-cunningham-all-nba-third-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/23\/cade-cunningham-all-nba-third-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Cade Cunningham All-NBA Selection Caps Off Pistons’ Incredible Turnaround"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Friday, Detroit Pistons<\/a> guard Cade Cunningham<\/a> was named to the All-NBA Third Team<\/a>, marking another significant milestone in his young career. He becomes the first Piston to make an All-NBA team since Blake Griffin<\/a> in 2019. Cunningham joins fellow third-team selections Tyrese Haliburton<\/a>, James Harden<\/a>, Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a>, and Jalen Williams<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This season marked Cunningham\u2019s emergence as a true star<\/a>. He showcased the full range of skills that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft, leading the Pistons with 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game across 70 appearances. His efforts earned him his first All-Star selection, a top-10 finish in MVP voting<\/a>, and a third for Most Improved Player<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With his breakout year behind him, the focus now turns to the future. What does Cunningham\u2019s recognition as one of the league\u2019s top 15 players mean for the Pistons moving forward? And what must he improve this summer to break into the All-NBA First or Second Team? Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n

Cade Cunningham All-NBA Selection Caps Off Pistons’ Incredible Turnaround<\/h2>\n

The Pistons’ Franchise Cornerstone<\/h3>\n

Cunningham\u2019s All-NBA recognition isn\u2019t just a personal accolade\u2014it\u2019s a signal that the Pistons finally have a legitimate cornerstone to build around. After years of searching for a franchise player post-Andre Drummond<\/a> and Griffin, the Pistons now have someone who can command respect nationally and serve as a foundational piece for a competitive team.<\/p>\n

Cunningham\u2019s leap has tangible implications. His elevated status could make the Pistons a more attractive destination for free agents<\/a> and potential trade targets. His leadership and all-around game offer a blueprint for the Pistons\u2019 identity: poised, unselfish, and tough-minded. From a team-building perspective, the front office must now shift into gear. Surrounding Cunningham with complementary talent\u2014versatile wings, reliable shooters, and defenders who can thrive in his playmaking orbit\u2014should be the priority.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Apr 24, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles in the second half against the New York Knicks during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cade Cunningham\u2019s Path to All-NBA First or Second Team<\/h3>\n

To move from All-NBA Third Team to First or Second, Cunningham must take another step\u2014something he\u2019s capable of. The first area of improvement is taking care of the ball. While Cunningham\u2019s stats are impressive, he struggled with turnovers. This season, he averaged 4.4 per game, ranked among the league’s highest. As the primary ball-handler, some turnovers are expected, but tightening his decision-making, especially under pressure and in late-game situations, will be crucial. Reducing careless passes and improving his feel for defensive schemes can boost his efficiency and his team\u2019s chances in close games.<\/p>\n

Second, defensive impact. Cunningham has the physical tools\u2014size, length, and IQ\u2014to be an above-average defender, but he hasn\u2019t consistently imposed his will on that end yet. If he can become a legitimate two-way presence, it could separate him from other offensively gifted guards. Finally, winning has to continue. It\u2019s hard to crack the First or Second Team without team success. If Cunningham wants to climb the All-NBA ladder, he\u2019ll likely need to lead the Pistons to continued progress in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/h3>\n

Cade Cunningham\u2019s All-NBA nod is more than a personal milestone. It marks a shift for the Pistons. They have searched for a star to lead, and Cunningham now looks ready to fill that role. He\u2019s proven he can be the face of the franchise and a dynamic guard in the NBA. The next step is building on that success and pushing the team forward.<\/p>\n

This season, Cunningham showed he belongs among the league\u2019s best. Next season, he can continue to prove he’s a true superstar in the NBA. He has the tools to guide the Pistons back into contention. The spotlight is on, and now it\u2019s time to rise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Featured image: \u00a9 Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Friday, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham was named to the All-NBA Third Team, marking another significant milestone in his young career. He becomes the first Piston to make an All-NBA team since Blake Griffin in 2019. Cunningham joins fellow third-team selections Tyrese Haliburton, James Harden, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jalen Williams. This season marked Cunningham\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5168,"featured_media":141245,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,10,62,3],"tags":[341,226,3965],"class_list":["post-141228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-pistons","category-nba","category-news","tag-andre-drummond","tag-blake-griffin","tag-cade-cunningham"],"modified_by":"Eamon Cassels, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141228"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":141249,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141228\/revisions\/141249"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}