Detroit Pistons G Cade Cunningham benefits from hot Malik Beasley

On December 27, 2024By Littum

PHOENIX — The upside was clear when the Detroit Pistons landed Malik Beasley in the offseason.

The veteran sharpshooter started 77 games for the struggling Milwaukee Bucks last year and knocked down 41.3% of his 3-point attempts. Since drafting Cade Cunningham in 2021, the Pistons had struggled to adequately surround him with shooting. Beasley was one of the top options on the market and agreed 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 3s. And he’s given Cunningham a bona fide off-ball threat that’s helping the fourth-year guard emerge as one of the league’s preeminent playmakers and put together his best campaign yet.

As a hobby, Beasley live streams 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 game. 100 possessions, according to Cleaning The Glass.

Whether that chemistry develops on or off the field, both players have benefited from each other’s presence.

“We’re also growing away from the field,” Beasley said. “I don’t know if you guys know, he’s been on my streams and stuff and we’ve been to dinner a few times this season. The chemistry is there. I think his IQ is what sets him apart from a lot of different point guards and because I’ve been in this league a long time, I know when he’s getting busy, I know when to cut, I know if I have to move a little bit to the right or left so that he can give it to me and give him expired if he does not have his strong side.

“Every night is different, too. If Cade comes into the game and scores six straight points, I know he’s going to be aggressive right now. I have to do different things for him. I’m really good at reading the game and understanding who who isn’t and who isn’t what we have to do and just focus on that.”

Focus, indeed: Beasley has launched 3-pointers at a prolific rate, with a high percentage of 41.1% that justifies the volume.

Going into Saturday’s game against the Suns in Phoenix, Beasley finished 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, and he struck out 75 over that span in 2017-18.)

After receiving a pass from Cunningham, Beasley has knocked down 45.3% of his 3s – 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 don’t close out in time.

Last season, Bojan Bogdanovic (41.7%) was Cunningham’s only teammate to hit at least 37% from 3 of 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 playing styles definitely compliment each other,” Cunningham said of Beasley. “He’s a motion shooter. I’m a creator. You’ve got two guys that fit stylistically. 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 that we’ve done a great job with. He’s one of the best guys in this locker room. He’s brought so much energy to us since he got here. That and just the way he can shoot the ball the fact that he shoots the one at the height of a clip, it is easy to play with him.”

Beasley headlines the best shooters Cunningham has yet been surrounded by. Four players knock down a high percentage of 3-pointers off his passes – Beasley, Jaden Ivey (40.5%), Harris (39%) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (38.5%). That quartet also ranks atop the list in 3-point attempts, a key reason why Cunningham has posted career-high assist totals.

Cunningham’s 9.6 assists per game marks his career high, ranking 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 Saturday, including career highs of 14, 15 and 18 in four games.

Cunningham never had better weapons. Beasley has stepped into a primary scoring role, despite coming off the bench, and has made everyone’s life easier as a result. Especially their franchise player.

“It’s really just understanding each other’s games, understanding where our spots are,” Cunningham said. “We play off each other so well. He gives me outlets so many times when guys are passing more to me, and for me, I think he loves to play with me because I throw it to him. It’s just about build that relationship on and off the field and continue to grow.”

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Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on X @omarisankofa.