Cade Cunningham Drops Bold Claim About Forming Deadly Backcourt Duo $32,951,083 Guard

Cade Cunningham has led the Detroit Pistons to a promising start this season as they currently occupy the top spot in the Eastern Conference. But for the Pistons star, their ceiling has yet to be touched, considering his backcourt partner Jaden Ivey's injury.

Talking in the Boardroom podcast hosted by NBA superstar Kevin Durant, Cunningham believed the Pistons could be deadlier once Ivey, who earns $32,951,083 in his current contract according to Spotrac, returned from injury.

“Me and Ivey, bro, we haven’t got a lot of time together. I’ve always felt like we could figure it out and be special," Cunningham said.

Cunningham, the top pick of the 2021 NBA draft, added that they may have different approaches in their game, but he thinks they could work things out when given the opportunity.

"We have two different ways of going about it, but I've always felt like we could figure it out. We just have not been able to be with each other on the court," he said.

Cunningham and Ivey have only played 94 games together on the court

Ivey, who was drafted in 2022, broke his fibula during a game against the Orlando Magic on Jan. 1 last season. He again injured his knee last October after playing a preseason game, but is expected to return to action anytime soon.

Despite playing without Ivey this season, the Pistons have risen atop the Eastern Conference standings as they currently boast a 12-2 record and are now riding a 10-game winning streak.

Cunningham has been the nucleus in the Pistons' superb start, averaging 27.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game.

Meanwhile, Ivey appeared in 30 games last season, where he averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

---

Pistons legend likens Cade Cunningham to Nikola Jokic

Pistons legend Isiah Thomas heaped great praise on current Detroit star Cade Cunningham amid the team's impressive start to the season. According to Thomas, Cunningham reminds him of former NBA champion Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets with the way he sets the table for his team.

“The way he’s playing the game right now, it reminds me a lot of when The Joker first started elevating to the level that he’s at now,” he said during a broadcast of NBA today.

“Jokic has found a way, like all the great players do, they find a way to beat you by making their teammates better, and not necessarily having to take all the majority of the shots, and that’s where Cade is at right now. He can beat you scoring 40 points, or he can beat you scoring 12 points.”

Aside from Cunningham, the Pistons have also seen an uptick in production from their other stars such as Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris, and Ausar Thompson.