Detroit Pistons G Cade Cunningham benefits from hot Malik Beasley

PHOENIX – The advantage was clear when the Detroit Pistons signed Malik Beasley in the offseason.

The veteran sharpshooter started 77 games for the rival Milwaukee Bucks last year and knocked down 41.3% of his 3-point attempts. Since drafting Cade Cunningham in 2021, the Pistons have struggled to adequately surround him with shots. Beasley was one of the top options on the market, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $6 million.

Beasley’s impact on Cunningham — and the Pistons as a whole — was immediate and positive. Through the first third of the season, he is on pace to set the franchise single-season record of 3 goals. And he has turned Cunningham into a true off-ball threat, helping the fourth-year guard develop into one of the league’s preeminent playmakers and putting together his best campaign yet.

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As a hobby, Beasley himself livestreams 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 100 possessions, according to Cleaning The Glass.

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

“We’re growing off the field, too,” Beasley said. “I don’t know if you know, he participates in my streams and stuff like that and we’ve gone out to dinner a few times this season. The chemistry is right. I think it’s his IQ that sets him apart from a lot of other point guards and because I’ve been in this league for so long, I know when he’s going to go, I know when to cut it, I know when I have to move a little to the right or left so that he can pass it to me and give him the outlet if he doesn’t have his strong side.

“Every night is different too. If Cade comes in and scores six points in a row, I know he’s going to be aggressive now. I have to do other things for him. I’m really good at reading the game and understanding who’s not and who’s not, what we need to do and just focusing on that.”

Focused indeed: Beasley has launched 3-point contests in abundance, with a high percentage of 41.1% justifying the volume.

Entering Saturday’s game against the Suns in Phoenix, Beasley ranked second in the NBA in 3-pointers made (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 three-pointers in 28 games in a season. (Tobias Harris is second, hitting 75 during that span in 2017-18.)

After receiving a pass from Cunningham, Beasley knocked down 45.3% of his three-pointers – the highest rate of any player Cunningham has ever played with. The veteran knows how to make himself available when teams try to trap Cunningham and make teams pay if they fail to close in time.

Last season, Bojan Bogdanovic (41.7%) was Cunningham’s only teammate to complete at least 37% on 3 of his passes (including at least 30 attempts). Simone Fontecchio came second with a hit rate of 36.4%.

Aside from Bogdanovic, Cunningham simply hasn’t played with many knockdown shooters.

“Our playing styles definitely complement each other,” Cunningham said of Beasley. “He’s a movement shooter. I am a creator. You have two guys that fit together stylistically. It just depends on how well you get along off the field and how well you can work together on your game. I think we succeeded brilliantly. He’s one of the greatest guys in this locker room. He has brought us so much energy since he arrived. That and the way he can shoot the ball, the fact that he shoots it from such a distance, makes him easy to play with.”

Beasley is one of the best shooters Cunningham has been surrounded by to date. Four players knock down a high percentage of 3-point shots with their passes – Beasley, Jaden Ivey (40.5%), Harris (39%) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (38.5%). This quartet also leads the squad in 3-point attempts, a big reason why Cunningham posted the highest assist total of his career.

Cunningham’s 9.6 assists per game mark a career high and rank 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 14, 15 and 18 in a span of four games.

Cunningham has never had better weapons. Despite coming off the bench, Beasley secured the lead role as a goalscorer, making life easier for everyone. Especially that of their franchise player.

“It’s really just a matter of understanding each other’s games and understanding where our spots are,” Cunningham said. “We play so well against each other. He gives me so many opportunities to give myself an outlet whenever the guys throw more at me, and I think he loves playing with me because I let him do it. It’s just about building that relationship on and off the field and continuing to grow.”

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Detroit Pistons G Cade Cunningham benefits from hot Malik Beasley

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