In April, Cade Cunningham finished third in the NBA Rookie of the Year race. So the Detroit Pistons’ 2021 first overall pick’s latest award isn’t a surprise.
Cunningham was named to the 2021-22 All-Rookie First Team, the NBA announced Wednesday. He was one of three players unanimously voted to the team, joining Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley and Toronto Raptors forward, and reigning Rooking of the Year, Scottie Barnes. Each received first-place votes from all 100 voters.
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Cunningham averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals last season. He had a historic campaign, as he’s the youngest player in franchise history to record a triple double and only the 10th rookie in NBA history to average at least 17 points, five rebounds and five assists per game.
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green and Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (Michigan) also made the first team. Wagner, who averaged 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists, received 84 first-place votes.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. The Free Press has a digital subscription model. Here’s how you can access to our most exclusive Pistons content. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.