As the Detroit Pistons maintain their spot as the top team in the Eastern Conference, high praise has been sent Cade Cunninghamâs way.
The two-time All-Star guard recently landed the ultimate endorsement from two NBA legends, Charles Barkley and Shaquille OâNeal.
Starting with Barkley, the Hall of Famer tossed out Cunninghamâs name as one of two, who should be strongly considered for the NBAâs MVP award at this stage of the year. Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown is the other.
âThe two guys who should be frontrunners for MVP are Cade Cunningham and Jaylen Brown,â Charles Barkley said.
Shaquille OâNeal, on the other hand, wanted to go in-depth on Cunningham, who was gearing up for a February 27 matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Shaq Sends A Strong Message To Cade Cunningham
GettyCade Cunningham has a fan in Shaq and Charles Barkley.
Shaquille OâNeal Endorses Cade Cunningham As One Of The NBAâs Most Valuable
âI watched him play the other day and he has the complete game,â OâNeal said on ESPN.
âI watched him do everything right. Not mostly rightâhe does everything right all the time. The way he plays, his pace, how heâs playing. And heâs got that look like weâre on a mission this year. They thought they could do something last year and they fell short, but nobody expected the Pistons to be where they are right now.â
Pistons Take Care Of Business vs Cleveland Cavaliers
GettyCade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons took care of the Cavaliers.
Without James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers were tasked with facing the Pistons in Michigan on Friday.
The Cavaliers put together an impressive fight, considering the circumstances. Cleveland took Detroit to overtime, where the Pistons eventually put the Cavs away with a 122-119 win.
More Pistons News: Cade Cunningham Makes Honest LeBron James Statement vs Thunder
Cunningham checked in for 37 minutes. He shot 11-21 from the field, scoring 25 points. Beyond his scoring, Cunningham came down with 10 rebounds and nearly notched a triple-double with seven assists. Defensively, he snatched two steals.
The Pistons have come a long way since Cunningham was the top prize for one of their worst seasons in recent history. The former No. 1 pick stuck with the organization through tough times, and now heâs starring for a squad thatâs on pace to make two-straight playoff appearances.
Last year, the Pistons were happy to make it, but frustrated to go out early. This year, they are playing with a chip on their shoulder, which contributes to their placement. First in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons are one of the top contenders in the league this year.
More NBA News: NBA Rule Change May Seal Cade Cunninghamâs MVP Case
Cunningham appeared in 51 games leading up to Fridayâs action. As Barkley suggested, the star guard is truly putting together an MVP campaign.
The star guard has posted averages of 25.4 points (45% from the field, 33% from three), 9.8 assists, and 5.7 rebounds. He might not be the consensus favorite, but heâs certainly in the picture. If the race ended in February, Cunningham just might be Barkley and Shaqâs pick.
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