"Mr. 1st team All-NBA"- Former champ doesn't hold back on Cade Cunningham's prospects after game-winner

Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons to a 116-113 come-from-behind win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday. The All-Star guard drilled a 24-foot banked shot with 0.6 seconds left to push the Pistons to the finish line. Cunningham finished the game with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, his ninth triple-double of the season.

After the game, 2008 NBA champ Kendrick Perkins reacted to Cunningham’s performance on X (formerly Twitter):

“Mr. 1st Team All NBA Cade Cunningham with the Game Winner!!!!”

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Cunningham has turned heads this season with his all-around game. He earned his first All-Star selection after leading the Detroit Pistons to a 29-26 record by All-Star weekend. The No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft has sustained his sizzling form in the second half of the season.

After the All-Star break, the Pistons are 10-5 to climb the Eastern Conference standings. After the win against the Miami Heat, they improved their record to 39-31 and clinched a playoff spot. Before this year, Detroit has not made the postseason since 2019.

Cade Cunningham has a chance to earn All-NBA First Team honors. To do that, he will have to beat a tough star-studded competition led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson, and Anthony Edwards.

Fans react to Kendrick Perkins’ All-NBA First Team claim for Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham’s game-winner over defensive ace Bam Adebayo quickly became viral. Kendrick Perkins’ comments over the Pistons point guard deserving of an All-NBA First Team honor only added to the hype.

Fans promptly reacted to Perkins’ claim:

“Wait. Over who?”

One fan said:

“Shai Giannis Jokic Tatum and? I think Don should get it, but Cade has a chance”

Another fan added:

“I fuccs with Jalen Green but I definitely wanted rockets to get cade”

@C_Reilly5 continued:

“He’s not getting first team”

@mkehurtem reacted:

“keep a cool one perk…every statement doesn’t have to have so much shock to it…great shot, excellent season for Cade”

The regular season will end in less than a month. While Cunningham has a chance, he is not a heavy favorite to earn a spot in the All-NBA First Team. Perkins highlighted how well the point guard has been doing this season.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Dipayan Moitra