LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers avenged their only loss of the season with a win against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. It was a mighty performance from the 76ers, as Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid played some elite basketball.
On the other end, Cade Cunningham lived up to the hype by being a top player with his 26 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists. It was a magnificent performance that showed Cunningham’s qualities that James has been on record loving.
Cade Cunningham earns LeBron James’ praise after latest matchup
Cunningham has been stellar to start the season, which is why the Pistons remain one of the best teams in the league. While some people were disappointed with how they were bounced out of the 2026 Playoffs, it seems the Pistons are ready to redeem themselves.
After eight games played, Cunningham is averaging 24 points, 5.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. He is one of the most well-rounded players in the league, and as a prime example of that, James is impressed with what he has seen.
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As a versatile player throughout his iconic career, LeBron is pleased to see Cade play. They are similar in some ways, as they are ball-handlers despite being significantly bigger than the usual guards. The same goes for James’ former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Luka Doncic.
“I love the big guard that can do multiple things. That’s why I love Luka as well. Always stated that Luka and Cade are two of my favorite players… It’s great to see what Cade is today, and yes, we have a really good relationship,” James said about Cunningham after their latest matchup.
With this kind of praise, the Pistons superstar has cemented himself as one of the best in the league. He is a top player who led this Pistons team to 60 wins last season, and he intends to keep doing it moving forward.
