USA Today via Reuters
Nov 21, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant (9) celebrates with guard Cade Cunningham (2) after making a three point shot during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 21, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant (9) celebrates with guard Cade Cunningham (2) after making a three point shot during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Cade Cunningham was selected as the number one overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. He has been having a stellar outing even though his team is at the bottom of the league.
Cade has been averaging a solid 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while playing nearly 30 minutes of the game. He looks like their point guard of the future and his size allows him to be versatile at the defensive end.
Cade Cunningham threw down the reverse dunk and was ejected… for pointing…
Thoughts? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/kkOeIObxtu
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 16, 2022
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However, Cade was ejected on Sunday in a controversial fashion. In the game against the Phoenix Suns, Cade drove baseline and reverse dunked the ball. This moment could have been the NBA Top Shot highlight of his young career but the officials ruined it.
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He pointed at the Pistons bench after the dunk and received a technical foul, which was his second of the game. However, the pointing was probably considered to be physical taunting, and Cade had already received a tech earlier for arguing about a call.
Likewise, the Oklahoma State product could not believe the call as the refs thought he was pointing at a Suns player. After getting ejected, Cade did not argue with the refs, but he simply went to his teammates and to Monty Williams to say a few words.
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 21, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles the ball up the court during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
NBA fans are fuming after Cade Cunningham got tossed
This ejection did not sit well around the league, as fans were fuming at this questionable call. The NBA fans took to Twitter to voice out their frustrations. They called the league soft and were angry at this era’s referees. Here are some of the best reactions to Cade getting ejected:
It’s a disgrace to sports and competing that people are getting ejected for shit like this. Games at the YMCA get more get more competitive. Let the players play.
— Rowan (@Rowan79202504) January 16, 2022
Beef Stew looking for the refs after @CadeCunningham_ was ejected. pic.twitter.com/ZFmnTCTpEz
— Shatton (@TroitDeee) January 16, 2022
The fact that Cade Cunningham got ejected for pointing when LeBron James DEADASS DID THIS after hitting a three, is a big reason this ejection annoys me so much. pic.twitter.com/u7OM9btwSL
— Sean Murphy (@seanhalfcourt) January 16, 2022
#Pistons Dwane Casey said he thought Cade Cunningham was pointing at a teammate: "I've seen a lot worse things to get ejected for than that."
He added that they're not in position to complain about calls/no-calls.
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) January 16, 2022
Cade Cunningham toasts the suns, dunks the reverse, points out to the officials that they completely missed the foul, and gets ejected for it.
Fuck the NBA and everyone who has empowered these clowns. pic.twitter.com/US5HG0UMwV
— Halbridious (@Halbridious) January 16, 2022
After what Cade Cunningham got ejected for, Kemp would have got sent to the G-League and suspended games from that too for pointing. pic.twitter.com/P2Rmo4P34J
— Ramone Dixon (@greatsince1986) January 16, 2022
Yes. Cade got ejected for doing this. pic.twitter.com/s7Vd3ktZNT
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) January 17, 2022
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What’s next for the Pistons?
The Pistons lost 108-135 to the team with the best record in the league, the Phoenix Suns. In fact, the Detroit Pistons have been having a torrid time as they continue to rebuild. They have a nice collection of young players who they will look to develop before contending.
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Meanwhile, they have an experienced star in Jerami Grant who has been having an excellent year averaging 20 points, and he looks to get his first all-star selection this year. The Pistons have been irrelevant for a very long time and they would look to get back to playoff contention a few years down the line.
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