Detroit Pistons' Arn Tellem compares Cade Cunningham's mentality, IQ to Kobe Bryant
Long-time player agent and Detroit Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem believes Cade Cunningham will take a massive step forward this season thanks to possessing a similar mentality to one of his former clients, Kobe Bryant.
Tellem appeared on the Free Press’ 'The Pistons Pulse" podcast to talk about the expectations of the Pistons team a day before the 2023-24 season opener. When Cunningham’s name came up 15 minutes in, Tellem gushed about the young Pistons star and his return from injury. He said the way Cunningham carries himself as a leader resembles the late Lakers legend and a number of other all-time NBA greats.
“Cade is an incredible leader,” Tellem said. “He reminds me a lot — maybe a different player — but mentally of when I represented Kobe. He has the same basketball IQ. He has studied the game and knows the game. He watches everything, reads about the game.
“He has a great feel. He’s one of those players that can see what’s going to happen before it happens like Kobe, like Magic, like Larry Bird. He has that gift.”
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The excitement around the organization to get Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, back on the court is palpable. He has only appeared in 76 of a possible 164 games through two seasons due to injury and sat out the final 70 games of last season due to shin surgery.
The flashes of his potential have shone through in limited NBA action. He averaged 17.8 points on 41.6% shooting, 5.6 assists and 5.6 rebounds during the first two seasons.
“He’s in great condition,” Tellem said. “I think it’s just going to be a fantastic year for him. He’s going to take a huge step forward.”
Cunningham’s first appearance back in the basketball limelight came in Las Vegas over the summer, where he worked out as a member of the USA Basketball Select Team. As a member of the practice squad facing the actual USA FIBA team, Cunningham reminded the basketball world of his potential as one of the best players in the entire camp.
He will be dropped back in as the focal point of the Pistons along with the rest of the young talent general manager Troy Weaver has amassed in the last four years. Tellem believes Cunningham’s penchant to always look for the open pass will be a tremendous assist to the development of Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and the litany of young bigs on the roster.
“He makes our other players, when he’s on the court, better,” Tellem said. “When he gets into the lane, he can see everything and he can find the open player. That, to me, is going to be super exciting for everyone.”
He compared the trajectory of this Pistons squad to last year’s Detroit Lions team, who started the season 1-6 before winning eight of the last 10 games to finish 9-8. Like the Lions last year, the Pistons will be focused around developing the young talent, improving overall play on both ends and adding more excitement around the team, not necessarily making the playoffs. And to the front office, Cunningham will be the catalyst of that growth.
“He is the leader of our franchise — everything we hoped and more when we drafted him,” Tellem said.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons exec compares Cade Cunningham to Kobe Bryant
