Nancy Turner
Dec 22, 2023 - 07:10

Former Pistons player blames front office and coaches as Cade Cunningham gives bizarre answer

Cade Cunningham's viral post-game comments about the Detroit Pistons' 25th consecutive loss led to former players and teammates speaking out.

Cade Cunningham, the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, appeared visibly disheartened as he faced the media following the Detroit Pistons' 25th consecutive loss of the 2023-24 season, this time to the Utah Jazz. Despite an impressive performance, with 28 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, two steals, and one block on 10-of-12 shooting, Cunningham struggled to provide satisfactory explanations for the team's ongoing struggles.

In a viral post-game video, Cunningham expressed disbelief at the Pistons' abysmal record, stating, "We're not 2-26 bad. You know what I mean? No way are we that bad." He remained hopeful, however, asserting, "So, yes, I think we can turn it around. I think we can play a lot better brand of basketball than we're playing right now."

Cunningham's comments sparked a response from former Pistons player Nerlens Noel, who took to social media to criticize the front office and coaching staff for the team's poor performance. Noel, who joined the Pistons as a veteran presence alongside Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks, expressed his belief that the organization had hindered the players' development in the past.

Following a trade with the New York Knicks, Noel's tenure with the Pistons was brief, playing in only 23 games and averaging 10.9 minutes per game, with 2.3 points and 2.6 rebounds. Notably, Noel's comments about the Pistons were made under the coaching of Dwyane Casey, and he has not experienced playing under the new coaching staff led by Monty Williams.

The Detroit Pistons have undergone significant changes in recent years, with team owner Tom Gores appointing Troy Weaver as general manager in 2019 to oversee a rebuild of the franchise. Weaver played a role in acquiring Nerlens Noel and other veterans to support the development of young talents like Cade Cunningham.

Subsequently, Noel's contract was bought out by the Pistons, and he briefly joined the Brooklyn Nets on a 10-day contract before departing the NBA after the 2022-23 season. Despite his departure, Noel's comments shed light on the challenges facing the Pistons and the efforts being made to address them.