Cade Cunningham, Former No.1 Pick, Agrees To 5-year $226 Million Extension With Detroit Pistons

Cade Cunningham, the first pick in the 2020 NBA draft, has agreed to a 5-year $226 million extension with the Detroit Pistons as the team rebuilds around their budding star. The former Oklahoma State shooting guard bounced back this season after only playing 12 games in the 2022-23 season. He averaged 22.7 points per game and dished out 7.5 assists, an impressive figure with a lack of talent around him.

The Pistons are providing this money, hoping that Cunningham can help them break their losing spiral since his arrival. To start the year, the Pistons lost 2-29 and 28 games in a row between October and December, tying the longest losing streak in NBA history. Detroit had the worst record in the NBA, going 14-68, one game worse than the Washington Wizards, but did not receive any lottery luck. The Pistons dropped to #5 and drafted Ron Holland, who played in the G-league for one season instead of attending college.

Cunningham, who is 22 years old, increased his scoring output in each of his three seasons in the NBA but has no other accolades except for making the All-Rookie team.

Next season, he will have his third head coach in three seasons as J.B. Bickerstaff comes in for Monty Williams, who was let go after just one year on his six-year contract. Bickerstaff coached the Cavaliers for the last five seasons and increased their record after each year, but GM Koby Altman wanted to go in a new direction. The Pistons give Cunningham another veteran coach they hope can bring the most out of their star.

Cunningham grew up in Arlington, Texas, before attending Oklahoma State for one season. As a freshman, he earned first-team All-American honors in Stillwater and Big 12 Player of the Year honors, averaging over 20 points a game. Experts expected he would be the No.1 pick in the draft when he entered his name.