Athletic writer James Edwards feels rookie Cade Cunningham will become the face of the Detroit Pistons and guide them back to the top of the NBA

It was a very tough rookie year for Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons as they finished second last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 23-59. But ‘The Athletic’ journalist James L. Edwards feels that Cunningham can be the leader of this Pistons team and guide them to greatness once again.

The youngster’s fine performances this season have got everyone talking and Cunningham is surely in the conversation to win the Rookie of the year. But for the Pistons it was yet another disappointing year in the NBA. The rookie’s addition helped the Pistons win three more games but overall they have played 10 more games than last season. So more or less not much of an improvement even with Cade Cunningham in the lineup.

But there is a lot of hope that the youngster will elevate the franchise in his second season. Edwards wrote on Athletic, “The next step for Cunningham is leading this historic franchise back to where it belongs. With baby steps, of course. Cunningham came into his rookie year with lofty goals, like making the playoffs right out of the gate. He learned that winning at this level isn’t as simple as just wanting it.

“Everyone wants that. What separates the good teams from the bad ones is doing what it takes every day.”

Cunningham came to the NBA with a winning mentality and it continued for the first few matches until he realized that winning consistently in the NBA is not easy.

The 20-year-old still showed some future elite traits as the Pistons drafted him as the top pick. Some people have already given him a ceiling like Larry Bird but to get there he needs to develop more with time.

Edwards feels that there is change taking place in the Pistons dressing room with Cunningham taking up the important role to lead them as he aims to improve the culture in Detroit.

“Only nine other rookies in NBA history have attained his averages of 17.4 points, 5.6 assists and 5.5 rebounds, and eight of them walked away from their inaugural seasons by winning the Rookie of the Year award,” Edwards added.

His name is being considered and picked by some of the top journalists and experts all over the globe. It is not much of a significance whether he wins the Rookie of the Year or not but he is the current face of the Detroit Pistons franchise and that’s what matters the most. He must prove that he is someone who can be trusted in helping the franchise get back to the top.