Detroit Pistons drop five-word reaction to Cade Cunningham's white namesake

The Detroit Pistons found its franchise star Cade Cunnigham’s namesake in another sport on Saturday, Jan. 25. The Pistons discovered Jacksonville State University’s football team’s newest recruit, Cade Cunningham—a quarterback who transferred from the University of Memphis, on Instagram when the team announced his signing.

The Detroit Pistons' official Instagram account then commented on Jax State University's post about Cunningham's signing. The NBA team wrote a five-word reaction, joking about the identical names of their basketball star and the collegiate football player.

“had to do a double-take,” the Pistons IG account wrote.

Pistons' comment

Cunningham, the football player, entered the transfer portal in December 2024, before officially transferring to Jacksonville on Jan. 4 this year.

The college football player was a six-foot-four junior in Memphis last season. He is set to play his senior year with the Jacksonville squad.

Meanwhile, Cunningham, the basketball star, is having a breakout year with the Detroit Pistons this season. He's averaging a career-high 24.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 9.4 assists as the Pistons experience a resurgence in the 2024-2025 NBA season, The team currently holds the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 23-22 record.

This year has also been Cunningham’s best shooting season since being drafted first overall by the Pistons in 2021. He is shooting 45.5 percent from the field in 20 attempts per game, including 36.9 percent from three, and 82.1 percent from the free throw line.

The Pistons have won nine of their last 13 games to climb up the East Conference standings. In the past two years, Detroit finished last in the East, winning only 17 and 14 games in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, respectively.

Cade Cunningham relishes winning record in Detroit for the first time in his career this season

Cade Cunningham saw the Pistons struggle to find their winning form since their last playoff appearance in 2019. Often at the bottom of the standings, the Pistons have been one of the bottom feeders, in the league, allowing them to build a core through the draft that includes Cunningham.

This year, Cunningham has been relishing the success the Pistons are having. In an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Cunningham revealed that he is savoring his time with the team as they have been winning more games than losing.

“There is a different satisfaction knowing that you worked for something," Cunningham said. "So, I wouldn’t want to do it with a different city than Detroit. I think they deserve to have a winning team. I want to be a part of that.”

“Last season, we were 2-1 to start the season and then the losing streak started. That was the only time I was over .500. It would mean a lot to change that. That is one of the next steps in the development of being a championship contender. So, I’m trying to take it step by step. I’m not trying to skip any steps.”

Aside from a winning season, Cuningham is also a candidate for his first career All-Star appearance this year.