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Potential No. 1 Pick Cade Cunningham Has 'Quarterback Mentality'

The Detroit Pistons are likely going to add a foundational piece to the roster, as they have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

John Maakaron

Potential No. 1 Pick Cade Cunningham Has 'Quarterback Mentality'
Potential No. 1 Pick Cade Cunningham Has 'Quarterback Mentality' /

Get ready, Detroit. 

Despite all the posturing that will surely take place just before the start of the NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons are the odds-on-favorite to land Oklahoma State point guard Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 overall selection. 

Despite being on the verge of a long and promising NBA career, it was actually football that was Cunningham's first love, as his father Keith was a standout high school quarterback in Texas, before a freak accident cut his career short. 

In a recent profile featured in The Ringer, Cunningham has clearly demonstrated a "quarterback mentality" out on the basketball court.

"Keith’s quarterback mentality lived on, however, through Cade. When Cade transferred to Montverde for his junior year, his presence was what opened the coaching staff’s eyes," Danny Chau wrote.  

Rae Miller, Montverde Academy’s associate head coach, raved about Cunningham's communication and his leadership skills. 

"His ability to really galvanize his group, no matter what the score was, no matter what the situation was, he was always the leader,” Miller said in the profile piece.

Pistons general manager Troy Weaver told SiriusXM NBA Radio last month, "He's a big time competitor, and that's what we are looking for here in Detroit. A big-time competitor that is selfless, and he embodies that. You can talk about skill level, but I like the intangibles that he brings to the game."

The 2021 NBA Draft is set to take place Thursday, July 29, at 8 p.m. from the Barclays Center.

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John Maakaron
JOHN MAAKARON

John Maakaron has covered Detroit Sports since 2013. Brings a vast array of experience covering the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Mercy Titans, and Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. John brings a wealth of sports broadcast experience. In 2013, John had the vision to establish the Detroit Sports Podcast Network. Has recorded over 3000 podcasts analyzing Detroit Sports. In 2019, Sports Illustrated Media Group, a historical sports media outlet, partnered with Detroit Sports Podcast to provide daily Lions content for their growing and expanding digital media outlet. Our Lions content can also be read in the newspaper at The Oakland  Passionate about Detroit Sports and it is reflected in his coverage of the local teams!

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