Cade
"The Tiger"
McDonald

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Cade McDonald's Biography

Cade Parker Cunningham entered the world on September 25, 2001 in Arlington, Texas. Born to parents Carrie and Keith Cunningham, the young Texan was set on a path of athleticism and high-performance in the world of sports. Cade’s earliest passion was football, playing the position of quarterback, which he later credits as the training ground for his future prowess as a basketball player.

Much of his basketball talent was built from childhood sessions in a recreation center, where he regularly played with his father and brother. Cade’s older brother, who played college basketball, was a key influence in pushing him towards the court. His middle school days at Barnett Junior High School brought his budding talent into focus, where he played as point guard and competed alongside Mike Miles Jr. in the Texas Titans on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.

Cade attended the local Bowie High School as a freshman before transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida for his junior year. The move to Montverde was significant, offering a boost to both his academic and sporting life. Montverde Academy was recognized for leading the country’s high school basketball programs and was rated number one by USA Today. Playing under nationally recognized coaches, the young Cunningham quickly established himself as an exceptional player, putting up impressive statistics that matched the school’s extraordinary rankings. He gained nationwide recognition as a top-tier player in high school basketball, winning coveted titles such as the Mr. Basketball USA, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, and MaxPreps National Player of the Year in his senior season.

Despite opportunities to join heavyweight basketball institutions like Duke, Kentucky, and North Carolina, Cunningham chose to be part of the Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball team. His commitment to Oklahoma State was significant as it marked the university’s highest-ranked committed recruit in program history. Cunningham’s toughness and resilience were heeded when the NCAA issued a postseason ban on Oklahoma State, stating he would keep playing for the team, regardless of circumstances.

His maiden season for Oklahoma State saw Cade named as a consensus first-team All-American after averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He did not only win the Big 12 Player of the Year but was also the fourth player ever to bag the Big 12 Freshman of the Year prize in the same season.

Beyond his domestic achievements, Cade represented the United States at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Greece, earning a gold medal to top off his High School career.

After a phenomenal debut season at Oklahoma State, Cunningham decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility to enter the 2021 NBA Draft. As expected, the Detroit Pistons handed him the golden ticket with their first overall pick.

However, he faced early adversity when an ankle injury forced him to miss the preseason and the opening games of the regular season. Upon his return, it didn’t take long for Cunningham to prove why he was worth the Pistons’ top pick. The young athlete broke records, became the youngest player to notch up specific scores, and joined ranks with Michael Jordan for achieving rare rookie records.

Cunningham was named MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge in February 2022 and was recognized as the player with the highest scoring average among rookies that season. Despite this, his first NBA season ended with a third-place finish in Rookie of the Year votes.

Cade’s NBA career continued to prosper, with a five-year, $224 million contract extension signed in July 2024. Throughout his career, overshadowing seasonal ups and downs and entries into record books, Cade always stood out for his devotion to the sport, the well-being of his daughter Riley, and his commitment toward a vegan lifestyle since 2019. It’s clear that Cade Cunningham has a promising future in the NBA, and is geared up to entertain basketball lovers worldwide with his talent and commitment to the game.