CADE CUNNINGHAM NAMED EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE MONTH
The NBA has announced that Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in October and November. It marks the first time in his career that Cunningham has received the honor.
Cunningham (6-6, 243) led the Pistons to an Eastern Conference best 16-4 start in games played through November, highlighted by a Detroit franchise record-tying 13-game win streak and the team’s best start through 20 games since starting 17-3 in 2005.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, Cunningham averaged 28.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 9.4 assists while shooting 45.6% from the field in 17 games across October and November. Through 18 games this season, Cunningham has averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game in 36.8 minutes per game. His 9.3 assists per game lead the Eastern Conference and rank second in the NBA (Nikola Jokic) and would be the highest average by a Piston since Isiah Thomas (10.0, 1986-87). His 28.2 points per game is the highest scoring average by a Piston since Jerry Stackhouse’s 29.8 points per game in 2000-01.
The Arlington, Texas, native is one of three players in the NBA this season averaging at least 28.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game, joining Luka Doncic of the L.A. Lakers and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Cunningham ranks second in the NBA in fourth-quarter points per game (9.9), second in assists per game (9.3) and 10th in points per game (28.2) and leads all NBA guards averaging 13.0 points in the paint per game.
In a win over Washington on Nov. 11, Cunningham tallied 46 points, 11 assists, five steals and two blocks, which was just the fourth instance in the past 10 seasons a player has posted those minimums in a single game. Cunningham is also the only player in the NBA this season with multiple games of 15+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 5+ steals.
His 10 point-assists double-doubles this season currently ranks second in the NBA (Nikola Jokic, 14) and he currently leads all NBA players with five 30-point double-doubles.
Cunningham was also named Eastern Conference player of the Week earlier this season for games played from Nov. 3-9.
