Boston Celtics legend Rajon Rondo wishes to mentor a young player who is on the rise in the NBA.
With the likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant reaching their twilight years, the NBA is in search of young stars who could one day replace them as faces of the NBA.
The likes of Paolo Banchero and Victor Wembanyama are touted as the next big things in the league by many NBA fans.
Another star who could be added to that list is none other than Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham. In fact, Boston Celtics legend Rajon Rondo believes Cunningham can still elevate his game to the next level.
During the prime of his career, Rondo was one of the best guards in the league, with his playmaking being the biggest strength.
On top of that, Rondo showed incredible IQ throughout his career. The 2x NBA champion wants to impart his knowledge to the next generation, and Cunningham has already caught his eye.
“If I can get Cade to understand how to manage the game. Because he’s a 3-level scorer, he can manipulate the game on both ends of the floor.
“So, if I can get my hands on a Cade Cunningham, I think he could become that one type of point guard,” Rondo said via Run It Back.
Rondo doesn’t think Cade needs to make a massive adjustment to his game, as the former NBA veteran claims that the Pistons star only needs a few tweaks.
“It’s only a couple of tweaks, and then it’s also about personnel. If he has to be the man, if he has to get 30, that’s what he has to do.
“But then, if he had two more superstars in the game, he wouldn’t have to manage and go get 30 every night,” Rondo stated.
Being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, it was only a matter of time before Cunningham started to scratch his potential in the league.
Well, Cunningham took that leap last season by averaging 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. Cade also earned his first-ever NBA All-Star selection.
| Stats | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
| Points | 17.4 PPG | 19.9 PPG | 22.7 PPG | 26.1 PPG |
| Rebounds | 5.5 RPG | 6.2 RPG | 4.3 RPG | 6.1 RPG |
| Assists | 5.6 APG | 6.0 APG | 7.5 APG | 9.1 APG |
The cherry on top was leading the Pistons to their first NBA playoffs since the 2018-19 season as the organization finished the season with a 44-38 record in the Eastern Conference.
Although the Pistons suffered a first-round exit in the postseason, Cunningham averaged a solid 25.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game over six matchups.
