Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has been sidelined since November 9 due to a leg injury and won’t return this season, but he has remained very involved on the sidelines and is evolving as a leader, even if he can’t actually take the court, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
“He’s using his voice more than ever, during games and talking before and after,” veteran Pistons guard Cory Joseph said. “Not only is he encouraging guys, but he’s also letting us know his thoughts, what he sees out there. It’s always different — and, of course, unfortunate — when you’re forced to take a step back and not play the game you love, but it is a different point of view. He’s keeping his mind engaged.”
“He’s the leader of this team, so anytime he has something to say, guys are all ears,” Pistons swingman Rodney McGruder said. “He brings us in all the time after huddles, before the game, talking on the bench, halftime. He’s pulling guys aside when he sees there’s a problem that needs to be fixed on the floor.”
As Edwards details, the Pistons’ coaching staff has made an effort to make sure that Cunningham feels connected to the team — his rehab and shooting work generally takes place right before or after practice, allowing the former No. 1 pick to observe his teammates’ work in those practice sessions. Despite his lost sophomore season, Cunningham is still considered the cornerstone of Detroit’s long-term future.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- In a Q&A with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, rookie guard Andrew Nembhard admits he felt as if he was a first-round talent in last year’s draft class, but says he wasn’t upset to land with the Pacers at No. 31. “It was a perfect situation in Indiana I fell into,” Nembhard said. “I don’t really feel no ill way towards it.”
- While it remains to be seen what sort of impact new Bulls guard Patrick Beverley will have on the court or in the standings, he should bring a much-needed spark to an “increasingly listless” team that’s in “dire need” of veteran leadership, contends Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. Beverley officially signed with Chicago on Tuesday.
- It’s unfortunate that Kevin Love‘s tenure with the Cavaliers ended so unceremoniously, following a series of DNP-CDs, writes Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. As Lloyd details, the good far outweighed the bad during Love’s time with the franchise, and the five-time All-Star were always be revered in Cleveland for the role he played on the 2016 title team.
Pat Bev gonna be annoying as all hell for the rest of the season…
Gotta suck to be a lazy team mate of his…
Cavs are really going to miss Love’s rebounding and shooting. Two areas where they need more. Our bench is already weak scoring as is.
Sadly he doesn’t do either anymore. Love is finished.
His rebounding percentage is literally fifth in the NBA if you lower the minimum appearances qualifier. And his shooting only fell off after he broke his finger. He has enough left in the tank to contribute.
Kevin Love, quitting on the Cavs during their best season in years, is revered while guys like LeBron & Kyrie were treated like terrorists for leaving during the off-season. Weird that the good didn’t outweigh the bad in those cases even tho those 2 guys are probably the greatest players in franchise history (Carr & Price right there w/ Kyrie) & did even more than Love to bring Cleveland their 1st title
Kyrie forced a trade and acted like he was stifled in Cleveland even though he was given so much leeway to operate. His later foolishness hasn’t helped. LeBron isn’t hated in Cleveland, everybody is happy he brought us our first ever title. Nobody blames Love for leaving, they blame JB Bickerstaff and Koby Altman for not finding a place for him in the rotation.
LeBron was definitely hated in Cleveland & throughout white America tbh when he left the Cavs. Hence the burning of the jerseys, the widespread vitriol in media, etc. You forgot already?… link to m.youtube.com
And that was forgiven after he dragged the team back from a 3-1 defecit in the finals? No duh, he was hated after “The Decision”, but that was everywhere. And it was Dan Gilbert’s fault that he left by not giving him quality help, which everyone now realizes. I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make about Love, except somehow trying to make it sound like Cleveland is racist. C’mon now.
Cleveland is in America. Obv it’s racist lol where have you been for the entirety of the existence of this country? White supremacist would be a better term. For America, Ohio, Cleveland & definitely hoopsrumors.com
As somebody who actually lives in Cleveland, no. Racism is a problem, but Cleveland is FAR from terrible in that regard. Maybe stop trying so hard to be “right” and actually pay attention to facts.
Race relations in Cleveland are pretty good considering there is a new hood popping up every year.
Gilbert gave him help LeBron just could not play with other ball dominant guys at the time.
His best teammate was literally Mo Williams. Get out of here.
Jamison,Wally,and Hughes were all guys LeBron failed to work with. LeBron can only play with shooters which is why Mo Will and Wear became such prominent figures
LeBron can play with other ball dominant players that can’t shoot, he won 2 championships with Dwyane Wade. In fact Wade had a higher usage rate then LeBron in both of those seasons.
Because Wade was the main guy in the offense. Plus that’s a couple years after the experiment with the other guys. Neither one of us is wrong but the fact of the matter is ‘08 only a few teams are stacked and the rest have odd rosters
A lot more than White America hated LeBron for his weak announcement to leave. Honestly you are such a diva it’s insane
Kyrie forced a trade in the off-season much like Love forced his way outta Minnesota. My point is that they’re treated much differently. In this case Love didn’t even wait until the off-season. Love is acting like he was stifled in Cleveland but if you remember he def had a place in the rotation before he lost it due to performance
He was injured, lest you forget. His “performance” is traced almost totally back to his broken finger that sapped his shooting ability. Bickerstaff never gave him a chance to reclaim his spot, sitting him for the past month. Chill with the false equivalencies.
Kyrie forced his way out and had nothing good to say afterwards that wasn’t fake. Love basically penned a love letter to the fans and said that he would have stayed, but he wants to play, and he wasn’t getting that opportunity in Cleveland.
Love was basically DFA as well he should be,he’s finished. Nothing left to offer.
Cade Cunningham is in injury rehab, can’t be on the court, but is the leader of the Pistons right now?
Because the other Pistons who are all mostly older than CC can’t navigate a game without him?
I have a bridge for sale too!
Umm, did you even read the quote? He is “using his voice” and “keeping his mind engaged.” If those aren’t the hallmarks of a true leader I don’t know what is.
Whatever is taking place in CC’s mind,or anyone else’s has nothing to do with now, or on court leadership.
In the future maybe, and he is working on those skills now, but the last thing a player wants is another player, especially an injured one, giving them advice on how to play.
A cheerleader, and student is probably more articulate, and accurate
Celtics aren’t in the Central
K-Love clearly gave more to CLE than he got back from them… no doubt he deserved better!