Carmelo Anthony Highlights Key Skill Cade Cunningham Must Develop
Cade Cunningham has quietly emerged as one of the NBA's most promising young talents. Yet, Carmelo Anthony believes Cunningham can elevate his game even further by honing a specific on-court ability.
The Advice From Carmelo Anthony
Although Cunningham was the number one overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and has shown impressive growth, Melo notes that only one major improvement stands out so far.
“His feel,” Anthony said on his podcast 7PM in Brooklyn. “Like, the feel for the game, his flow of the game.”
Anthony explains this means Cunningham is beginning to truly grasp the leadership role on the court.
“I think what we’re seeing with Cade, he’s starting to understand that he’s wearing the white hat and he’s running that organ. So, with that comes confidence. With that comes responsibility, too.”
Cunningham’s Progress as a Playmaker
This growth reflects Cunningham's transition into the primary playmaker for the Detroit Pistons. In his rookie season, he averaged only 5.6 assists per game, but his passing skills have markedly improved since.
- Last season: 9.1 assists per game
- This season: averaging 9 assists per game
Carmelo believes this enhanced court vision and leadership will unlock Cunningham’s superstar potential.
Author’s Summary
Carmelo Anthony emphasizes Cade Cunningham’s development of leadership and game flow understanding as crucial to reaching his full NBA potential.