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Detroit Pistons G Cade Cunningham benefits from hot Malik Beasley
PHOENIX — The upside was clear when the Detroit Pistons landed Malik Beasley in the offseason.
The veteran sharpshooter started 77 games for the contending Milwaukee Bucks last year, and knocked down 41.3% of his 3-point tries. Since drafting Cade Cunningham in 2021, the Pistons had struggled to adequately surround him with shooting. Beasley was one of the best options on the market, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $6 million.
Beasley’s impact on Cunningham — and the Pistons as a whole — has been immediate and positive. Through the first third of the season, he’s on pace to set the franchise’s single-season record for made 3. And he has given Cunningham a bona fide off-ball threat, helping the fourth-year guard emerge as one of the league’s preeminent playmakers and put together his best campaign so far.
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As a hobby, Beasley livestreams himself playing “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6” on his Twitch channel. Cunningham has joined him a few times. When the two team up on the basketball court, the Pistons outscore opposing teams by 6.8 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning The Glass.
Whether that chemistry is being developed on or off the court, both players have benefitted from each other’s presence.
“We’re also growing off the court,” Beasley said. “I don’t know if you guys know, he’s been joining my streams and stuff like that and we’ve gone to dinner a few times this season. The chemistry is there. I think his IQ is what separates him from a lot of different point guards, and for me to have been in this league for a long time, I know when he’s about to get busy, I know when I’ve gotta cut, I know if I’ve gotta move a little to the right or to the left so he can pass it to me and give him the outlet in case he doesn’t have his strong side.
“Each night is different also. If Cade comes into the game scoring six straight points, I know he’s going to be aggressive right now. I have to do other things for him. I’m really good at reading the game and understanding who’s not and who’s not, what we need to be doing and just focusing on that.”
Focusing, indeed: Beasley has launched 3-pointers at a prolific rate, with a high percentage of 41.1% justifying the volume.
Entering Saturday’s game against the Suns in Phoenix, Beasley ranked second in the NBA in made 3-pointers (106) and was also second in 3-point attempts (258), behind only Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum and LaMelo Ball, who were tied at 262.
No Piston in franchise history has made more 3s through 28 games in a season. (Tobias Harris is second, knocking down 75 over that span in 2017-18.)
After receiving a pass from Cunningham, Beasley has knocked down 45.3% of his 3’s — the highest clip of any player Cunningham has played with. The veteran knows how to make himself available when teams try to trap Cunningham, making teams pay when they fail to close out in time.
Last season, Bojan Bogdanovic (41.7%) was Cunningham’s only teammate to crack at least 37% from 3 off his passes (among those with at least 30 attempts). Simone Fontecchio was second, shooting 36.4%.
Outside of Bogdanovic, Cunningham just hasn’t played with many knockdown shooters.
“Our play styles definitely compliment each other,” Cunningham said of Beasley. “He’s a movement shooter. I’m a creator. You have two guys that stylistically fit. It’s just about off-the-court, how well you get along, how well you can work on your game with each other. I think we’ve done a great job of that. He’s one of the greatest guys in this locker room. He’s brought so much energy to us since he got here. So that and just the way that he can shoot the ball, the fact that he shoots it at that high of a clip, it’s easy to play with him.”
Beasley headlines the best cast of shooters Cunningham has yet been surrounded by. Four players are knocking down a high percentage of 3-pointers off of his passes — Beasley, Jaden Ivey (40.5%), Harris (39%) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (38.5%). That quartet also ranks at the top of the roster in in 3-point attempts, a key reason Cunningham has racked up career-high assist totals.
Cunningham’s 9.6 assists per game mark his career high and ranks third in the NBA, behind only Nikola Jokic (9.8) and Trae Young (12.2). He had double-digit assists in 12 of 17 games entering Saturdayt, including career-highs of 14, 15 and 18 in a four-game span.
Cunningham has never had better weapons. Beasley has stepped into a primary scoring role, despite coming off of the bench, and has made everyone’s life easier as a result. Especially that of their franchise player.
“It’s really just understanding each other’s games, understanding where our spots are,” Cunningham said. “We play so well off of each other. He gives me an outlet so many times whenever guys send more at me, and for me, I think he loves playing with me because I throw it over to him. It’s just about building that relationship on and off the court and continuing to grow.”
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X @omarisankofa.
The Detroit Pistons’ rookie guard Cade Cunningham is already making waves in the NBA, and he has his teammate Malik Beasley to thank for it. Beasley’s hot shooting and playmaking abilities have opened up opportunities for Cunningham to showcase his own skills and make an impact on the court.
In recent games, Beasley has been on fire, draining threes and creating scoring chances for himself and his teammates. This has not only helped the Pistons win games, but it has also helped Cunningham settle into his role and find his rhythm as a rookie in the league.
Cunningham, the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has shown flashes of brilliance with his scoring, playmaking, and defensive abilities. With Beasley’s hot streak, Cunningham has been able to play off of his teammate’s success and contribute to the team’s success as well.
As the season progresses, look for Cunningham to continue to benefit from Beasley’s hot shooting and playmaking, as they form a dynamic duo in the Pistons’ backcourt. Together, they have the potential to elevate the team to new heights and make a statement in the league.
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