The team that only won 14 matches last season has had an amazing turnaround. The Pistons have flipped the script this season, but the biggest headline? Cade Cunningham’s rise to stardom. In his fourth year, Cunningham isn’t just running Detroit’s offense—he’s thriving as its centerpiece. Over 64 games, he’s averaging 25.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 9.3 assists, proving he can do it all. His game has leveled up, and the numbers back it up.
But here’s where it gets wild—he’s now one of just three players in NBA history to rack up 4,300 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,400 assists in his first 200 games. The other two? Oscar Robertson and Luka Dončić. That’s not just an impressive stat—it’s the kind of company that signals a superstar in the making.
But the NBA isn’t taking notice. Probably because they aren’t the Warriors or the Lakers. They don’t have a huge market like the Knicks. Heading into Christmas, national broadcasts on ESPN, ABC, and TNT were struggling, averaging just 1.4 million viewers—a steep 19% drop from last year.
Fans have a point when they say the NBA needs to switch things up. Instead of the same old matchups, why not put rising teams and young stars in the spotlight? Giving fresh talent more national TV time could bring the excitement—and the ratings—back where they should be.
And the Pistons are just that.
“We need more Detroit games on national TV. Time to put more of a spotlight on Cade Cunningham.” Bobby Marks of ESPN, which is ironic said this himself.
Detroit’s rise isn’t just about Cade Cunningham—it’s about the Pistons finally becoming a real playoff contender. Sitting at 38-31 and holding onto the sixth seed in the East, they’ve built a solid five-game cushion over the Hawks. That’s the kind of progress that gets fans excited.
For years, Detroit has been an afterthought on the national stage, but this season, they’re proving they belong in the playoff conversation. A team on the rise with a young star playing at an elite level? That’s exactly the kind of storyline the NBA should be putting on national TV.
This is a developing story…
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