Cade Cunningham ‘honoured’ by comparisons to ‘special’ Portland Trail Blazers legend

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Cade Cunningham has addressed the comparisons being drawn between himself and a former Portland Trail Blazers standout.

Drafted first overall in 2021, Cunningham spent his early years in the league refining his game. He’s now starting to look like a future star.

He also helped lead Detroit back to the playoffs for the first time in six years. There’s no doubt he’s become the heart of that team.

This season, he’s been even better, putting up huge numbers while leading Detroit to their best campaign in years.

Cunningham is a rare breed – a guard who makes an impact on both ends of the floor. His rapid rise has led some to compare him with one of Portland’s most exciting players of recent memory.

What Cade Cunningham had to say about being compared to Brandon Roy

Speaking ahead of the Detroit Pistons’ clash with the Utah Jazz, Cunningham addressed the growing comparisons to Brandon Roy, who made his mark as a Blazers star in the 2000s.

Cunningham didn’t shy away from the praise. He called Roy a legend and said it’s an honour to be mentioned in the same breath. He even admitted that he’s taken inspiration from Roy’s game.

“Brandon Roy was a legend in my eyes. He was special. He could do it all, both hands, inside-outside game,” said Cunningham.

“I mean to be even compared, I feel honored. I would love to be compared to [him]. I think it’s a cool comparison. Definitely have tried to implement things from his game.”

How Cade Cunningham could turn Detroit into a true contender

Cade Cunningham has turned the Detroit Pistons into one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams, and it’s been quite a turnaround.

Detroit currently sits top of the East with a 24-6 record, and Cunningham is putting up MVP-level numbers. His rise has sparked talk that he should be in the same conversation as players like Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic.

Jason Kidd even said Cunningham deserves to be mentioned alongside them, but not everyone agrees. Some fans think it’s still early to make those comparisons.

Cunningham has improved on his consistency over the past couple of years, which is what separates good from great NBA players. Once he can lead them to real playoff success, his place among the game’s best will be hard to deny.