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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins made an eye-opening comparison involving Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham, the Philadelphia 76ers' LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic.
On Thursday night, Cunningham dazzled everyone with his historic 52-point game. He became the first player since the league began tracking turnovers in 1977-78 to record at least 50 points and 10 assists with zero turnovers in a game.
Cunningham's feat arrived during a 144-140 double-overtime win over the Washington Wizards, who had three players combining for 97 points. It also inspired Perkins to make his latest hot take on ESPN's "First Take," which may have caught viewers off guard.
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"Here's the thing, Cade Cunningham is a top 10 player in the NBA. If Luka and LeBron James had a baby, you'll get Cade Cunningham," Perkins said with a straight face on "First Take."
"He's the closest thing to those guys when it comes to his size and being at that point guard position, or point forward, that can get buckets, rebounds, and assists," he said.
More news: Cade Cunningham Makes NBA History With 52-Point Outburst in Pistons’ Win
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Cunningham continues to establish himself among the NBA's top players this season after emerging as an NBA MVP contender alongside Doncic and others last season. However, he still has accomplishments to pursue before reaching the level of established stars such as Doncic and James.
James has won four championships in his career with three different teams: the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers. Doncic has never won a championship but helped guide the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024, which they lost to the Boston Celtics.
Cunningham was the Pistons' No. 1 pick in 2021 and has earned back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2025 and 2026. This season, he's on pace for his third All-Star selection, averaging 25 points, 7.9 assists, and 5.2 rebounds, while shooting 48.5% from the field.
After finishing atop the Eastern Conference last season, the Pistons remain among the conference's contenders this season with an 8-3 record, trailing the Philadelphia 76ers (10-3) and Boston Celtics (10-2) in the current standings.
Along with his "if Luka and LeBron had a baby" take, Perkins also delivered a harsh reality check about Detroit's postseason chances, suggesting the Pistons need more than just Cunningham to get through the conference to the NBA Finals.
"It's about when they get to the playoffs, do they have enough offensive firepower to get through the Eastern Conference?" he asked.
Perkins claimed that "Jalen Duren folded like clean sheets" in the postseason and noted that the Pistons have since lost Tobias Harris. He suggested those circumstances place more pressure on Cunningham, whom Perkins said looked "exhausted" trying to carry the team in the NBA Playoffs.
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