Detroit Pistons’ rookie guard Cade Cunningham was awarded with MVP honors for his performance in the Clorox Rising Stars competition on Friday night.
https://twitter.com/NBAAllStar/status/1494909611911962624
Cunningham competed for Team Rick Barry, who ultimately won the competition.
Cunningham, 20, was selected first overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.
After starting out the season dealing with an injury, Cunningham has impressed pundits with excellent court awareness, defensive versatility, and three-level scoring.
In 44 games, Cunningham has averaged 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists on 39%/33%/86% shooting splits.
Cunningham’s efficiency numbers will need to go up considerably if he wants to make the jump to the next level.
Minnesota Timberwolves’ guard/forward Anthony Edwards – the number one overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft – similarly struggled with efficiency in his rookie year.
However, Edwards has turned his efficiency up considerably in his sophomore season.
The Pistons are clearly counting on the development of Cunningham, as well as Rising Stars Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart, as they currently have the second to worst record in the NBA.