Carmelo Anthony on Cade Cunningham’s Path to Stardom
Carmelo Anthony shared what he believes is the next key step for Cade Cunningham to unlock his full superstar potential. The Detroit Pistons guard has steadily grown into one of the NBA’s most dynamic young players since being drafted first overall in 2021.
“His feel,” Anthony said on his podcast 7PM in Brooklyn. “Like, the feel for the game, his flow of the game.”
Anthony noted that while Cunningham’s overall development has been consistent, his sense for orchestrating the game has shown real improvement. Melo added that understanding his role as the leader of the team comes with both confidence and responsibility.
“I think what we’re seeing with Cade, he’s starting to understand that he’s wearing the white hat and he’s running that organ. So, with that comes confidence. With that comes responsibility, too.”
Cunningham’s progress is clear in the numbers. As a rookie, he averaged 5.6 assists per game. Last season, that jumped to 9.1 assists, and this year he’s maintaining a strong average of 9. His evolution as a playmaker underscores how he’s begun to fully command Detroit’s offense.
Author’s Summary
Carmelo Anthony believes Cade Cunningham’s growing leadership and improved game awareness are the defining traits that could elevate him into NBA superstardom.