NBA top 100 2026/27: Cade Cunningham’s rise continues at no. 9

For the fourth consecutive year, Flashscore has unveiled its ranking of the NBA’s top 100 players ahead of the new season. Coming in at ninth place, Cade Cunningham has justified his status as a former No. 1 overall draft pick, but the next challenge is to take the Detroit Pistons to even greater heights.

Being selected first overall comes with enormous expectations, and a player is ultimately judged by how he compares with the rest of his draft class. Five seasons into his NBA career, Cunningham has firmly established himself as one of the standout players of his generation, demonstrating why he was chosen at the top of the draft.

The former Oklahoma State Cowboys star developed steadily before reaching another level last season, emerging as the driving force behind a Detroit Pistons team that finished among the conference’s best. His individual performances and leadership also helped Detroit win a playoff series for the first time since 2008, marking a significant milestone for the franchise.

However, the campaign ended in disappointment with a Game 7 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers. For Cunningham and the Pistons, that loss has provided a clear target for the season ahead: making another deep playoff run and establishing themselves among the NBA’s elite.

Detroit’s celebrated teams of the 2000s, which reached at least six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, remain a benchmark for the franchise. Reaching those heights again will require further development from Cunningham and important improvements from the front office, particularly in addressing the weaknesses exposed during the playoffs.

Individually, Cunningham has already established himself as a star. His next objective is to become a genuine NBA superstar capable of competing for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and leading his team towards a championship.

There is still work to do before he reaches that level, but his development continues to point in the right direction. Cunningham has the talent and leadership to climb even higher in Flashscore’s rankings. Moving from ninth to the very top may be a longer-term ambition, but maintaining his upward trajectory will be crucial in 2026/27.

Cade Cunningham: 2025/26 Season Stats

• Points: 23.9 per game
• Field-goal percentage: 46.1%
• Three-point percentage: 34.2%
• Assists: 9.9 per game
• Rebounds: 5.5 per game
• Games played: 64

Expectations for 2026/27

Reasonable target: 26 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds per game, putting Cunningham firmly in the MVP conversation.

If he can build on his previous campaign and help Detroit progress further in the playoffs, Cunningham could strengthen his case as one of the NBA’s leading players and push for an even higher position in next year’s rankings.