WNBA Legend Candace Parker Compares Pistons' Cade Cunningham to Luka Dončić

Parker says Cunningham may be the 'Luka of the East' amid growing MVP buzz for the 24-year-old Pistons star.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:20am

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WNBA legend Candace Parker has drawn a bold comparison between Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić, describing Cunningham as potentially being the 'Luka of the East'. The 24-year-old Cunningham is having an MVP-caliber season, leading the Pistons to a 47-18 record and first place in the Eastern Conference.

Why it matters

Cunningham's rise to stardom is a significant turnaround for the long-struggling Pistons franchise. The comparison to Dončić, one of the NBA's elite players, highlights Cunningham's potential to become a transcendent talent and lead the Pistons back to prominence.

The details

During a pregame interview, Cunningham was asked about being included in MVP conversations. 'It means a lot, it means a lot,' Cunningham said. 'I always wanted to be considered the best basketball player, so to be at where I'm at now is a great feeling.' Despite an off night against the 76ers where he scored just 8 points, Cunningham still contributed 13 assists and 5 rebounds. On the season, he is averaging 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game while shooting 45.9% from the field and 35.0% from 3-point range.

  • The Pistons defeated the 76ers 131-109 on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Cade Cunningham

A 24-year-old guard for the Detroit Pistons who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma State. He is having an MVP-caliber season, leading the Pistons to first place in the Eastern Conference.

Candace Parker

A WNBA legend who currently works as an NBA analyst. She drew a bold comparison between Cunningham and Lakers star Luka Dončić, describing Cunningham as potentially being the 'Luka of the East'.

Luka Dončić

A star player for the Los Angeles Lakers who is considered one of the NBA's elite talents.

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What they’re saying

“But listen, one thing you cannot deny is that Cade Cunningham may be the 'Luka' of the East. And I say that, at 6'6", 220 pounds, he generates such easy offense for Detroit.”

— Candace Parker, WNBA Legend and NBA Analyst (NBA Courtside)

“It means a lot, it means a lot. I always wanted to be considered the best basketball player, so to be at where I'm at now is a great feeling. It's all credit to my team's success and coach's success. But, we still got a long way to go.”

— Cade Cunningham (Pregame Interview)

What’s next

The Pistons will look to continue their strong season and Cunningham's MVP-caliber play as they aim to secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The takeaway

Cade Cunningham's rise to stardom with the Detroit Pistons has been remarkable, drawing comparisons to elite players like Luka Dončić. His combination of size, skill, and leadership has the potential to make him a transcendent talent and lead the long-struggling Pistons franchise back to prominence.