Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham, a professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons, has made significant strides in his career, both at the collegiate and professional levels. His college basketball career at Oklahoma State in 2021 was marked by noteworthy recognitions, such as the consensus first-team All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year. Additionally, he received prestigious accolades, including the Wayman Tisdale Award, NABC Freshman of the Year, and Sporting News Freshman of the Year, all in the same year. Prior to his college career, Cunningham was the national high school player of the year in 2020 and a McDonald's All-American.

In the NBA, Cunningham's impact has been equally significant. He was drafted with the first overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons and received NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2022. Despite undergoing season-ending surgery in the 2022-2023 NBA season, he made a remarkable return in the following season. In 2025, he was named an NBA All-Star and to the All-NBA Third Team. Cunningham set multiple franchise records for the Pistons, including the most triple-doubles in franchise history. He also represented the United States at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, contributing to the team's gold medal win.

Off the court, Cunningham has achieved significant milestones as well. In 2024, he signed a five-year contract extension with the Pistons. He also has a significant endorsement deal with Nike, including his own signature shoe. This places Cunningham among the few active NBA players with such a deal.