When the Pistons' franchise player learned their next head coach would be Monty Williams, "I thought it was best-case scenario," said Cade Cunningham.
"I couldn’t have been happier," Cunningham said Tuesday. "I thought it was the perfect person for us. Just excited for the team and for us to be able to learn from him and take it to the next level."
Williams said Wednesday that he's followed Cunningham for a while. The two forged a relationship the past couple years by crossing paths and chatting in the bowels of arenas across the NBA. After the Suns played in Detroit last season, Williams was on his way to the team bus when he said "Cade came right over and we sat there and talked for about five minutes."
"I ran into Troy (Weaver) right after that and I was like, ‘Who is this kid? Like, where’d you get him from? I just had an adult conversation,'" Williams said with a laugh.
On top of Cunningham's demeanor, Williams has always "loved his game." In a game between the Pistons and Suns two years ago, he recalls Cunningham giving Mikal Bridges, one of the best defensive players in the NBA, everything he could handle: 19 points (on 8-15 shooting) and five assists.
Related
"He’s got a bit of an old game, if you will. He plays in the mid-range, he can knock down threes, he’s got great size. I remember a couple of years ago at our place Mikal Bridges had a tough time guarding him, and that stuck out to me because Mikal can guard anyone" Williams said.
And what sticks out about Williams to Cunningham?
"Looking at his playbook and things like that, I think it’s going to fit us really well," he said.
That will be key for the Pistons, who are counting on Cunningham and Jaden Ivey to form a dominant backcourt duo for years to come. That might not come natural for two ball-dominant guards who barely played together last season, but Weaver believes the two 21-year-olds will find the right chemistry with Williams' help.
"He’s worked with a number of great players and great duos, so he and his staff are excited and off and running on that. But we feel that players usually figure it out and the right coaches take them to another level," Weaver said. "Looking forward to Monty and his staff raising the level of those guys."
Related
Williams, likewise, is eager to work with both of them starting this summer, "to get acquainted and try to get some of our stuff in their bag." While he spoke from the Pistons' practice facility Wednesday morning, Williams said Ivey was already in the gym, well into a workout: "I’m looking at the floor, he’s been here since before 8:00 this morning."
"His work ethic is second to none. Speaking of Mikal, he reminds me so much of Mikal, the willingness and want-to to get better," Williams said.
As for Cunningham's health as he rehabs from shin surgery last December, Weaver said the former No. 1 pick is back on the floor and "looking pretty good." And while he's yet to progress to playing five-on-five, Cunningham said he feels "amazing."
"Starting to feel back to full form," he said. "Feel like if it was a game, I’d be ready to compete in it. It’s good. I still have a lot of time left this summer to continue to get better and feel better."
Listen live to 97.1 The Ticket via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker