By ADAM ZAGORIA
Cade Cunningham may be the projected No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA Draft, but he admitted to some butterflies before his first collegiate game at Oklahoma State.
“There’s definitely butterflies going into the first game,” the 6-foot-7 Cunningham said on ESPN. “We haven’t played in about eight months or however long, so definitely butterflies but I just tried to get a feel for it and once it did it was downhill from tom there.”
Cunningham finished with 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting with 10 rebounds in his first game and young Oklahoma State fended off UT Arlington 75-68 in a season opener on Wednesday.
Teams like the Knicks may end up “Trying to Fade for a Shot at Cade” this season ahead of next year’s NBA Draft lottery.
An Associated Press preseason All-American, Cunningham was 1-for-5 from the floor in the early going, but had scored a dozen by halftime, showcased a variety of moves in the paint and came up big on the defensive glass in the final two minutes.
Cade Cunningham, ladies and gentlemen.
— ESPN (@espn) November 25, 2020
Remember the name 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wdbeZ0lX6u
Six players made their Oklahoma State debuts.
Cunningham, who posted Oklahoma State’s first 20-10 game since 2018, corralled the ball and was fouled after consecutive UT Arlington misses around the two-minute mark and the lead at three points. He made three of four from the line to help put the game away.
“I like that he changes pace, changes direction, I like his ability to get to the rim and finish,” ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg said on air. “He reads ball screen situations. He’s playing with a very young basketball team.”
Cunningham, who chose Oklahoma State over Kentucky, opted to stay committed to Oklahoma State after the Cowboys were given a postseason ban for their role in the college basketball bribery scandal.
The school is appealing the ban.
Photo: Ok State
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