Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham officially declared for the 2021 NBA Draft on Thursday.
So, put it down in writing: Cunningham will be the No. 1 overall pick on July 29.
The freshman sensation set the college basketball world on fire this season with his exceptional scoring and playmaking ability. Cunningham was thoroughly dominant in one of the more competitive conferences in the nation. He will now take his talents to the NBA.
The upcoming draft class is expected to be better at the top than last year's group, with more depth as well. Still, there is no question Cunningham is the headliner.
Here are three reasons Cade Cunningham is the clear No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Combination of size and skill
Cade Cunningham is a bona fide playmaker who can take defenders off the dribble and create offense both for himself and for teammates.
Typically, combo guards of that ilk have good, but not great, size and reach. Well, Cunningham is 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds. He has a frame that presents challenges for opposing guards and the terrific skill to match.
Cunningham keeps the ball on a string. He might not have the same “wow” factor as a Kyrie Irving or Stephen Curry, but still uses the dribble to get to his spots on the floor. Cunningham is every bit as comfortable getting to the cup and trying to make the right play, whether on drive-and-kick actions or finding bigs lurking around the rim.
The handle and vision, especially when paired with the height, make Cunningham a tough cover. He is terrific at anticipating defensive actions and adjusting accordingly, also using his size and quickness to exploit mismatches or even get into the post.
Three-level scorer
Anthony Edwards was pegged by some as a “three-level scorer” in advance of being selected No. 1 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. But that was a bit of a misnomer.
Edwards certainly showed he could be a threat as a slasher capable of explosive finishes at the rim, and he also scored via an assortment of pull-up, midrange jumpers. The former Georgia also showed plenty of comfort launching from beyond the arc.
But it's not as if Edwards was the most efficient scorer. He shot just over 40 percent from the field, including just 29.4 percent from deep.
Cunningham is a true three-level scorer. He shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc on 5.7 attempts and can pull from deep coming off ball screens or in transition.
Get in Cunningham's area and he will get to the rim and seek contact. His 2-point field goal percentage (46.1) is at least a little bit deceptive because of how often Cunningham challenges opposing bigs. Cunningham averaged 5.8 free-throw attempts per game this past season. That's more than Edwards — a more heralded slasher — had at Georgia (5.3) during the 2019-20 campaign.
The knack for being a shot creator was evident throughout the season. Cunningham could get to the shooting pocket off the dribble, pulling up for midrange jumpers and runners and creating space with step-back Js. He also exploited straight-line drives and invited contact to make trips to the line.
Cool, Calm and Clutch
This is more of an “eye test” sort of statement, but Cade Cunningham always looks tremendously composed when he is on the floor.
Now, that's not to say Cunningham does not show emotion. He was not afraid to let out a big scream here and there following big buckets. But he really stays within himself well and never appears rattled by the moment.
Cunningham also shows out when it matters the most.
The Cowboys were trying to sustain momentum heading into a big matchup with the interstate rival Oklahoma Sooners at the end of February. All Cunningham did was score 40 points and grab 11 rebounds to pace Oklahoma State to a win.
Although the Cowboys suffered a loss to Baylor at the end of the regular season, Cunningham would help key their upset of the Bears in the Big 12 Tournament. He scored 25 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists as Oklahoma State made a run to the championship game.
It should also be said that while Cunningham had an off shooting night in the Cowboys' NCAA Tournament loss to Oregon State, he never stopped being aggressive on either end of the floor. Cunningham went 4-for-11 from deep and got to the line for 10 free-throw attempts. He also had five steals.
Oklahoma State often placed a heavy offensive burden on Cunningham's shoulders. He never seemed “saddled” or bothered by that responsibility. Rather, he welcomed being the premier playmaker for OSU.
With the first pick in the 2021 NBA Draft…
Cunningham's maturity is evident. He also has the right mindset in terms of staying hungry, telling Dwyane Wade he still felt people are “sleeping” on his talent.
It seems fair to say NBA talent evaluators and executives certainly are not sleeping. In fact, some of the bottom-dwellers might not get any sleep themselves in advance of the Draft Lottery, which might as well be renamed the Cade Cunningham sweepstakes.
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