Pro Pokes: Cade Cunningham Shines in Pistons Season Opener
Basketball is back as the NBA is underway and the college basketball season is less than two seasons away. For Oklahoma State fans who need their basketball fix, they can tune into their three former Cowboys in the NBA Cade Cunningham, Marcus Smart and Lindy Waters.
Cunningham got a quick start to the NBA season. The former Poke came back from a long injury with a vengeance as the Detroit Pistons dropped their season opener 103-102 to the Miami Heat, who was in the NBA Finals a season ago.
The loss didn't stop Cunningham from having a huge game, though. He finished with 30 points, three rebounds and nine assists in 36 minutes of action while shooting 13-of-27 from the field.
After last season, which saw limited action from Cunningham before having season-ending surgery, people seemed to have forgotten who he was or what he was capable of. All of Cunningham's potential was on display tonight as he showed out against a very good squad.
"All glory to God, first and foremost," Cunningham said after the game. "It's crazy to be back on the court, back with my brothers competing. I'm just thankful and lucky to do what I do. I just carried that with me and played hard and let the game be what it is."
The former No. 1 overall pick played the 2020-21 season with the Oklahoma State basketball team. Appearing in 27 games, he averaged 20.1 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game and 3.5 assists per game in 35.4 minutes per game.
For Cowboys fans, it's no surprise Cunningham is able to compete at this level in the NBA, as he was a force to be reckoned with during his lone season in Stillwater.
Watching how Cunningham performs on the season will be intriguing to watch, and his great first game is a sign of what could come this year.
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Kade has been covering a wide variety of teams ranging from the NFL to the NBA and college athletics since joining Sports Illustrated's On SI in 2022