As it turns out, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham won’t be leaving the 2024-25 season empty-handed in honors department — and he’s walking away with a serious bag, too.
The NBA announced Friday that the fourth-year guard was named to the All-NBA Third Team, as selected by a panel of media members. It’s the first All-NBA honor of Cunningham’s career and makes him the first Pistons player to earn such recognition since Blake Griffin in the 2018-19 season.
While Cunningham came up short in Most Improved Player voting this year, it was widely expected that he’d crack one of the three All-NBA teams based on his standout performance — one that also included his first All-Star Game appearance.
In 70 games this season, Cunningham averaged 26.1 points on 46.9% shooting from the field and 35.6% from 3-point range. He also added 9.1 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game — all career highs.
With the selection comes a hefty payday.
Cunningham’s five-year, $224 million rookie-scale extension now increases to 30% of the salary cap — up from 25% — thanks to his All-NBA selection. The adjustment pushes the total value of the deal to $269 million, adding an extra $45 million to his earnings.
The All-NBA First Team features Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell.
The Second Team includes Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley and New York’s Jalen Brunson.
Joining Cunningham on the Third Team are Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns, and the L.A. Clippers’ James Harden.
Cunningham was named on 99 of 100 ballots, receiving six First Team votes, 50 Second Team votes and 43 Third Team votes — totaling 223 points.
This season, Cunningham firmly put himself on the map — not only because of his individual production, but because that production translated into winning basketball.
With Cunningham leading the charge, the Pistons completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in NBA history, improving from a 14-68 record last season to a 44-38 finish under new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. The team clinched a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time in 17 years.
