Cade Cunningham is finally emerging as an All-Star guard

Cade Cunningham entered the NBA as the first overall draft pick in 2021. He was widely viewed as a potential generational talent. However, he struggled to make an immediate impact for the Detroit Pistons. 

Part of Cunningham's struggles was due to the poor roster construction around him, while another part was due to his being 20-years-old and having the weight of a franchise on his shoulders. However, in his fourth NBA season, we're starting to see why Cunningham was so highly touted coming out of Oklahoma State.

On Saturday, Cunningham posted his fifth triple-double of the season in his team's 120-111 win over the New York Knicks. Cunningham dropped 29 points, dished out a career-high 15 assists and secured 10 rebounds. At 23-years-old, Cunningham's performance should serve as a reminder that he is still on track to prove himself as a generational talent at the guard position. 

Still, Cunningham's strong start to the season is down to more than just experience. It's no coincidence that he's reached a new level when J.B. Bickerstaff has stepped into a head coaching role. Bickerstaff praised Cunningham's production and approach when speaking to the media after Detroit's 10th win of the season. 

“I thought he did a great job. He started the game with 21 points at half, almost a triple-double ... He set the tone for the game,” Bickerstaff said. “Defensively, we asked him to guard (Jalen) Brunson and I think he did a really good job keeping him in front of him and containing him. He played a complete game tonight, and I was proud of his effort.”

Cunningham has the size, skill and physical tools to emerge as a top-three guard in the NBA. He's been fortunate to land on a rebuilding team, where he's force-fed minutes and allowed to play through his mistakes. We're starting to see the benefit of that approach. 

Of course, Cunningham is still four or five years away from his prime. There will undoubtedly be some downswings in his production from time to time. He might have improved, but he's still developing and learning to be the best version of himself.

Nevertheless, his performances at the beginning of the new season are encouraging. Pistons fans are finally getting a glimpse into what life will be like with Cunningham leading the charge. He's a genuine All-Star talent and will be at the forefront of the team's push to return to the postseason in the coming years. 

It may have taken a while, but Cunningham has finally arrived.