Cade Cunningham Discusses Why He Loves Playing in Detroit

It has been a long time since Detroit Pistons fans have had a team they can get excited about. Since they were in the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals, the team has only made the playoffs four times, and never made it out of the first round. 

Last season, the Pistons burst back onto the scene and were one of the most exciting young teams in the league. They made the playoffs and took the New York Knicks to six games despite having less talent and much less experience. 

This season, however, the Pistons look even better. As of Wednesday, they are 15–2, the best team in the Eastern Conference, and are on a 13-game winning streak. This hot streak has been a team effort, but the elevated play of Cade Cunningham, the Pistons’ new homegrown star, has been the highlight. 

Cunningham was recently asked about embracing the Detroit fans and culture, and this is what he had to say: 

“I think the culture is number one. The city of Detroit just seemed like a place with a lot of cool people — they love the sports teams, they love the music, they love being from Detroit, and that’s something I always found cool. Texas is a place where we’re super proud to be Texans, and I think Detroit is the same way — people are just so proud to be from Detroit, and that was something I wanted to be a part of. And the history of the Pistons is unmatched. I mean, Isiah Thomas, Chauncey — there are so many guys who are just huge. They’re legends in the NBA, and this franchise itself is a legend of the NBA.”

Cade wants to be the next great Piston to bring glory to Detroit. He is off to a great start, and his head is in the right place. If he is able to pull it off, like Isiah Thomas and Chauncey Billups, he will be a Detroit legend forever.