This season, Cade Cunningham has fully justified the expectations that followed him in 2021 when the Detroit Pistons selected him with the No. 1 overall pick. The team from Motor City now looks like a legitimate contender, and Cade is playing at an MVP level.
From day one, he showed statistically that he was worthy of the hype. However, poor team results, inconsistent outside shooting, and a high turnover rate led many to question whether Cunningham would ever reach his full potential.
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Just the beginning
By the end of last season, those debates had already started to fade, and this year everything was confirmed when the 24-year-old was voted in as an All-Star starter. Still, Cade has no intention of stopping there.
“The L.A. All-Star Game was part of that plan,” Cunningham said in an interview with “Andscape”. “I wanted to make sure I’m in there. And then win a championship and be an Olympic point guard. It’s all part of the long-term plan, for sure.”
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Not long ago, it would have sounded unrealistic to hear Cunningham talk about winning a title. Just two seasons ago, the Pistons endured a 28-game losing streak and looked nowhere near a playoff team, let alone a championship contender.
But the NBA is a league where things change quickly. Today, Detroit finds itself in a very different position, with a clear vision for the future. The franchise has built an impressive young core around Cunningham, including Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and Ausar Thompson, complemented by experienced veterans, and everything seems to be clicking.
The organization moved on from Jaden Ivey, once seen as part of a dynamic backcourt duo alongside Cade, and the results have paid off this season. Under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit currently ranks 10th in offensive rating with 116.6 points per 100 possessions and second in defensive rating at 108.8, according to NBA.com.
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That gives them a +8.3 net rating, second-best in the league, making them, along with the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics, one of four teams ranked in the top 10 in offense, defense, and net rating. Notably, the latter two franchises have won the last two NBA championships, which further highlights Detroit’s ceiling.
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Future of USAB?
With that in mind, Cunningham’s championship ambitions don’t sound far-fetched. A 6-foot-6 guard is the type of player who raises a team’s ceiling, and a deep playoff run could also strengthen his case for a spot on Team USA’s roster for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
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The competition at the guard spots will be fierce — Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Trae Young, Ja Morant, and LaMelo Ball are all likely to be in the mix, and some veterans could still be part of the conversation as well.
Still, alongside Haliburton, who led the Indiana Pacers to the Finals last season, Cunningham is emerging as a logical choice to help Team USA chase a record sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal. If Cade were to bring a championship to Detroit, it would only cement his status as one of the league’s elite players.
USA Basketball needed a new face for the next era, especially with veterans gradually stepping aside. Cunningham, dominant on both ends and committed to winning basketball, looks like exactly that kind of player.
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With this version of Cade, there should be no doubt of them staying as dominant as they were.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.