Photo Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Cade Cunningham Believes He Deserves To Win This Year’s Rookie Of The Year Award

Cade Cunningham has been showing why he was worthy of being the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He has already emerged as one of the main contributors for the Detroit Pistons and has averaged 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game on 40.0% shooting.

While the 20-year old rookie still has a lot of work to do, especially with his shooting numbers, fans and basketball pundits across the NBA are already wowed by his all-around talent, as well as his leadership capabilities for the Pistons.

Cunningham’s performance this season has allowed him to hold a notable spot in the Rookie of the Year ladder. He has improved his case over time and is now waging a battle among the likes of Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, Josh Giddey and Franz Wagner.

In a post-game interview, Cunningham had the chance to share his thoughts on the ROY race. According to the Pistons rookie, he deserves to win the award but he’s more focused on building team success.

“I’m not really too worried about that race, as much as getting the building blocks and getting the foundation right next year for the Pistons. I’m going to keep working. I think I deserve the award, but at the end of the day, it’s a trophy. I think building something good with my team would mean a lot more.”