Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham has articulated his belief that his team is poised to compete for an NBA championship, particularly following a strong start to the 2025-26 season. In an interview with ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill on NBA Today, Cunningham expressed the team’s ambition, stating, “We’re trying to get to the Finals and win the Finals.”
Reflecting on last season’s playoff experience, where the Pistons reached the first round, Cunningham emphasized that the lessons learned from that series have fueled their drive. “We all learned something from it, we all took something from it and we all have a chip on our shoulder because of that series,” he noted. He further remarked that the focus has shifted from merely qualifying for the playoffs to striving for excellence in performance.
Cunningham is not only focused on personal accolades, like the MVP award; instead, he aspires for team success. “This season is about winning a Finals more than anything. A Finals MVP I’d be way more happy about than an MVP,” he stated.
As of now, the Pistons are enjoying a remarkable start, leading the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-2 and are currently on a 13-game winning streak, which ties the franchise record. This impressive turnaround follows a challenging 14-68 record in the previous season but has built momentum after a strong 2024-25 campaign where they finished 44-38 and made the playoffs, ultimately falling to the New York Knicks in a six-game series.
Cunningham’s performance has been instrumental in this resurgence, averaging 27.1 points, 9.6 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, with shooting splits of 44.4% from the field, 28.4% from three, and 82.1% from the free-throw line. Additionally, the Pistons have demonstrated a solid defensive stance, ranking third in the league for defensive rating at 110.4, showcasing their ability to hinder opposing offenses effectively.
With Cunningham leading the charge, the Pistons are not only a team to watch this season but also a group that believes in its potential to contend for the ultimate prize.