Cade Cunningham poses for photos on the red carpet during the 2021 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on July 29, 2021 in New York City. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images/AFP
The Detroit Pistons selected Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 overall choice of Thursday’s NBA Draft at New York.
The Pistons had been projected to pick Cunningham since winning the lottery last month.
Cunningham averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists and was Big 12 Player of the Year during his lone college season with the Cowboys. He led the team in scoring, assists, steals (43) and 3-point baskets (62).
The Pistons went 20-52 last season — the second-worst record in the NBA — and missed the postseason for the 10th time in the past 12 campaigns.
“Words can’t even explain the emotions,” Cunningham said on ABC of being the No. 1 overall pick. “I’m just so happy to be here and see what I can do on the next level.”
It marked the first time Detroit has selected first since choosing Bob Lanier in 1970. Lanier was a seven-time All-Star during 9 1/2 seasons with the Pistons and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.