Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham Gets Involved in 1 Shocking Stephen A. Smith Moment 1 Feb 15, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) competes in the three-point contest during All Star Saturday Night ahead of the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

'He Can Manipulate the Game on Both Ends' – Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham Gains Massive Praise From 2-Time NBA Champion

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 9:13 AM ET

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has gained a new fan in Rajon Rondo, as the two-time NBA champion said he wants to work with him someday.

“If I can get Cade to understand how to manage the game. Because he’s a 3-level scorer, he can manipulate the game on both ends of the floor. So, if I can get my hands on a Cade Cunningham, I think he could become that one type of point guard,” Rondo said about Cunningham on Run It Back.

“It’s only a couple of tweaks, and then it’s also about personnel. If he has to be the man, if he has to get 30, that’s what he has to do. But then, if he had two more superstars in the game, he wouldn’t have to manage and go get 30 every night,” he added.

Feb 10, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Cunningham, who became an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career, led the Detroit Pistons to their first postseason appearance since 2019 after averaging 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists on 46.9 percent shooting from the field across 70 regular season appearances.

Detroit Pistons’ new free agency signing shares excitement on joining their young core

The Detroit Pistons signed Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson this offseason, and the former feels he will fit in seamlessly with the team’s young core.

Atlanta Hawks Make Heartbreaking Announcement Amid Player's Injury 81 Feb 10, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) is helped off the court by Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) and Atlanta Hawks guard Caris LeVert (3) against the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

“Obviously, they have really good young players in Cade, Duren, Ausar, Ivey, Stewart. When you’re a young player in this league, you’re kind of right there. I think the year before last, they were in a lot of games that they lost,” LeVert said via Coty Davis of The Detroit News.

“I think this year they kind of took that step. I know J.B. was a big part of it, but I think that the guys took a step forward and had a component of ‘we’re not going to be that bad again this year.’ And I think that’s what you want as a young player. You want that hunger, I think these guys had it for sure,” he added.