Even though he hasn’t laced up his sneakers in decades, five-time NBA champion Magic Johnson still keeps a close eye on everything happening around the league. Whether it’s through interviews, podcasts or a quick post on social media, he’s never shy about sharing his thoughts on the league’s rising stars.
And when a young player puts together a performance that demands attention, Magic usually takes notice. That’s exactly what happened after the recent matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks, when one standout showing caught the Hall of Famer’s eye and prompted him to weigh in publicly.
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Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham brings the ball up the court against the Cleveland Cavaliers.Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
(Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)
Johnson took to X to share his thoughts on Cunningham’s performance. He posted, “NBA fans all over the world, I hope you didn’t miss the Detroit Pistons Superstar Cade Cunningham’s performance against the New York Knicks last night. He put on a show scoring 42 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds! Cade scored from everywhere on the court – three point, the midrange jumper and he was driving it to the basket. He may have had the play of the year when he dunked on three Knicks with his left hand!”
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Cade Cunningham delivered one of his most complete performances of the season, pouring in 42 points while also handing out 13 assists to steer the Detroit Pistons past the New York Knicks, 126-111. Detroit didn’t just win; they controlled the tempo once they settled in, turning an early deficit into a comfortable lead that held through the night.
New York had its moments — Jalen Brunson scored 30, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 11 boards — but the Knicks struggled from deep and couldn’t string together enough stops to truly swing momentum. Detroit steadily built separation, stretching the advantage into the high teens late in the game and never letting it dip into serious danger.
What made it more impressive? The Pistons were without key contributors due to suspension, yet still looked sharp and confident behind Cunningham’s leadership.
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Related: Pistons’ Cade Cunningham Reacts to NBA’s Flopping Problem
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.