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‘Bring That Greatness Back’: NBA Draft 2021 First Overall Pick Cade Cunningham Reveals His Goals with the Detroit Pistons

Published 07/30/2021, 8:05 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Th2 2021 NBA draft was one night to remember. From surprise picks to great gestures, it was a great night. The number 1 pick belonged to the Detroit Pistons in the draft. Unsurprisingly, they picked Cade Cunningham from the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Cunningham is one of the most gifted players in recent times. He made his name in the NCAA tournament. Analysts said that he has no weaknesses as a player. He is an all-around guard, who can score and defend.

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Post-draft, Cunningham spoke about his goals with the Pistons.

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Cade Cunningham wants to restore glory in Detroit

The 2021 number 1 pick did not hesitate in saying that his short-term goal is to get the Pistons to the playoffs this year. He said that he wants to be a part of the playoffs in his rookie season and give Detroit a chance to compete. Cade said:

“Short term goal… you know I want to reach the playoffs this year, that’s the only goal to have you know. I want to be able to bring them into a playoff game and give them a chance to you know, fight for NBA championship.”

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When asked about his long-term objective, Cade Cunningham said that he wants to win multiple championships. Like any other NBA player, Cade wants to compete in this league while making a name for himself. However, he wants to do it with Detroit. He said:

“Long term I want to be able to you know, be a multi NBA champion. I want to win a bunch of rings, I want to bring that greatness back to Detroit. I want to you know, feel that responsibility of being number one pick and do it my way.”

USA Today via Reuters

Can Detroit win a championship?

The Pistons were a poor team last season. Likewise, they got a lottery pick in the NBA draft. With Cade Cunnigham, they are surely a better team. However, do they have enough to win a championship?

Cade is a great talent to have. He averaged 20 points and 6 rebounds with Oklahoma State last year. In addition, he is great on the defensive end as well, as he averaged 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. However, Detroit has a lot of competition to even make the playoffs this season.

USA Today via Reuters

The Pistons have not been a competing team for a while. Moreover, they finished dead last in the Eastern Conference. To make the playoffs they will have to go past teams like the Hornets, Pacers, Chicago, and the Wizards.

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Although it is not impossible, Pistons don’t have the pieces around Cade Cunningham to compete as of now. If Detroit can land good trades and add players around Cade, a surprise boost may be in play. However, with just Cade, it is extremely difficult for them to get into the playoffs, let alone compete for a chip.

USA Today via Reuters

Do you think Cade Cunningham can win a championship with Detroit? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

Anuj Talwalkar

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Anuj Talwalkar is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He is a student studying at NM College in Mumbai, aspiring to pursue sports management to follow his love for sports. Anuj started following the NBA last year, and he loves to combine his passion for writing with his understanding of basketball.
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