DETROIT — At just 24 years old, Cade Cunningham has officially become one of the Detroit Pistons’ senior voices, a development that reportedly caused him to experience lower-back tightness the moment someone called him a veteran.
Cunningham, now among the longest-tenured players in Detroit, has embraced a larger leadership role by reminding younger teammates how different the league was several seasons ago.
“Back in my day, we won 14 games,” Cunningham reportedly told the locker room. “You kids don’t know adversity.”
The former No. 1 pick has already begun displaying classic veteran behavior, including pointing at spots on the floor, nodding approvingly after defensive rotations and becoming visibly annoyed when rookies play music he does not recognize.
Pistons staffers said Cunningham has also started referring to 2023 as “a different era.”
Detroit plans to lean heavily on his experience as the team continues trying to transition from rebuilding project to actual basketball team.
Asked whether he feels old, Cunningham said absolutely not.
He then stood up slowly, stretched both hamstrings and asked someone to turn the music down.
