Cade Cunningham Joins Luka Doncic, LeBron James in Elite Company

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By JH Kubicek | Last updated Apr 13, 2025 4:33 PM ET

After dealing with injuries, poor coaching, and putrid rosters around him in his first three NBA seasons, Cade Cunningham has broken onto the scene. In his first All-Star season, he has led the Detroit Pistons to their first playoff appearance since 2019 and could make his first career All-NBA team.

Cunningham did not play in the season finale against the Milwaukee Bucks as the Pistons look ahead to the first-round series against the New York Knicks, but he joined truly elite company in his fourth NBA season.

Cunningham averaged 26.1 points, 9.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds, putting up one of the most well-rounded campaigns in NBA history.

Only Oscar Robinson, Nikola Jokic, James Harden, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Luka Doncic have beaten those season averages.

Once you factor in his solid 35.6 percent mark from 3-point range, the exclusive club gets even better.

With Cade Cunningham out, he’ll average 26.1 points on 35.6% from 3, 9.1 assists & 6.1 boards.

He joins Nikola Jokić (2x), LeBron James and Luka Dončić as the only players in NBA history to average those numbers for a season.

Cade is the youngest to do it at 23.
— Hunter Patterson (@HuntPatterson_) April 13, 2025

Unlike James, Doncic, and Jokic, Cunningham is yet to find himself in MVP talks, although as the Pistons improve and eventually surpass the aging Bucks and Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings, Cunningham is expected to take the leap.

The Pistons finally offered Cunningham some spacing and a present coach in JB Bickerstaff. After a season of the lackluster and seemingly absent Monty Williams, the Pistons became the first team in NBA history to triple their win total from the previous season.

The Pistons are on upset watch heading into the first round as their physicality could give the Knicks some fits. If Cunningham can lead Detroit to its first series win since 2008, he will only grow his legend in the Motor City.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: