Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Pistons' Cade Cunningham says he 'whispered' bank on game-winner

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Mar 20, 2025 9:46 PM ET

Cade Cunningham has become a superstar before our very eyes, and it couldn't have come at a better time for the Detroit Pistons.

Cunningham was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma State and it took him some time to develop as he struggled with inconsistency, injury and horrible team construction around him.

This season marked a new beginning in Detroit with a new head coach in J.B. Bickerstaff after the colossal failure that was the Monty Williams era.

The result of the new leadership and mindset has been a team that is 39-31 and is currently on a run to make the playoffs just one season after going 14-68. The Pistons are in the running with the 39-29 Indiana Pacers and 38-30 Milwaukee Bucks for the Eastern Conference's fourth seed.

The Pistons are a good team, and that was highlighted by a win on Wednesday night that saw them take the Miami Heat down to the wire before Cunningham knocked in the game-winner from downtown — using the glass.

He went to the bank and cashed out a game-winning three, but did he honor the time old tradition of "calling bank"?

"I might have whispered it," he said on Wednesday, per ESPN. "I don't think anybody heard that, though."

CADE CUNNINGHAM FOR THE WIN!!!! pic.twitter.com/S0DSKj1k1w
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 20, 2025

Whether it was heard or not, what has been heard is Detroit's turnaround and Cunningham's massive role in it. His game-winner was the highlight but it overshadowed his triple-double performance of 25 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, his ninth of the season.

Cunningham is averaging 25.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game this season and he's playing at an All-NBA clip.

What a turnaround it has been for the Pistons. Credit goes to Bickerstaff and Langdon, but Cunningham becoming a bona fide superstar is undoubtedly the biggest reason why.

"Just get him the ball and get out of the way," Bickerstaff said after the game-winner. "You try to get the ball in his hands, occupy the guys around him and you know that Cade's going to be able to get his shot off. He's got the size. He's got the skill. He knows he's going to get his look. We told him to go win the game and he went and got it done."

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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