Cade Cunningham had been in NBA jail since entering the league. In his fourth season, he has already played for three coaches. Dwayne Casey was the head coach for four seasons and was shown the door after a miserable 22-23 season. Monty Williams then clearly did not want to be here, but Tom Gores made him an offer he couldn’t refuse and then proceeded to fire him after one season. And now J.B. Bickerstaff, who, as it currently stands, would be a contender for Coach of The Year. The main reason for that? Cade Cunningham. Cade has seen the Pistons win a grand total of 54 games before this season while also seeing them lose 176, including a franchise record 70 last season. Due to injuries, the case could be made that this is Cade’s second season. He had to sit on the bench for the last 70 games last season and watch the Pistons have arguably the worst season in Detroit’s modern day sports. Only the 2008 Lions and the 2005 Tigers could be mentioned with them. Many questioned him as being worthy of the first overall pick. Many put all the onus on him for the Pistons, woes.

This year, Cade has proved all his critics wrong. He has guided the Pistons to a record of 22-21, almost doubling last years win total. He has surpassed the greatest Piston of all time, Isiah Thomas, and only trails Grant Hill for the most Triple Doubles in franchise history. Quite an accomplishment to say the least. He is only 23 and nowhere near his prime. Pistons GM Trajon Langdon bet on Cade and rewarded him with the five year rookie max extension of $224 million. Langdon gambled and won.

Cade loves Detroit. He wants to be a Piston for life. When was the last time Piston’s fans heard a player say that? Cade has embraced Detroit. I believe it is about time to have Detroit embrace him. On draft night in 2021, all the experts claimed Detroit had drafted their franchise player. So far this season, Cade has been that franchise player. He was quoted just recently as saying, ‘The city has received me. The way it carries itself makes me want to be here.’ It may be semantics but does he feel embraced? Attendance has risen at LCA but only slightly. Sure the Lions have had a grip on the city, but Detroit has always had room in their sports hearts to share the love. The media (outside of beat writers) mentions them, and maybe does a piece on them once in a blue moon. Again, it’s usually the Lions, but Cade and the Pistons have warranted a lot more. Franchise players like Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St Brown, and Penei Sewell are players who helped change the Lions’ culture. The infusion of all the young talent helped change the Tigers’ culture. There are hopes that Sieder, Raymond, and Larkin can change the Wings culture. Cade has, without a doubt, changed the Pistons culture. Franchise players can put teams on their backs some nights and win. But franchise players also make everyone around them better. They’re better because they know their leader trusts them. Ask Isiah Stewart, who got isolated on defense by Jalen Suggs a couple weeks ago. Cade clapped for 8 seconds and encouraged Stewart. He trusted him to not help double team Suggs. Stewart got the stop. He gave Cade all the credit for it. Cade has no problem to drive and swing it out to the open man. This year those open men are making the shots. Credit goes to Cade, but he will never say that. He is as humble as he is talented. Can you say that about any other franchise players in the NBA? No.

The Pistons, albeit still early, are on track to make the playoffs. Other teams don’t take a night off against the Pistons anymore. They aren’t a guaranteed win circled on the calendar anymore. Other teams, fans are slowly but surely showing up to arenas, not just to see their players play, but to also see the superstar that is Cade Cunningham play.

Stephen A. Smith refers to superstars as ‘Box Office.’ Detroit sports fans, get out to watch your Pistons play more. They are fun to watch. They are good. Embrace and welcome your franchise Piston Cade to the Detroit Superstar Fraternity. Cade Cunningham. Box Office.