On February 19, Beijing time, the NBA officially opened All-Star Weekend today. In today's rookie challenge, Barry first defeated Payton 50:48 in the semifinals and then beat Thomas 25:20 in the final to be named this year's All-Star Rookie Champion.
In the semifinals, Cunningham shot 5-of-10, including 2-of-4 three-pointers and 1-of-1 free throw, totaling 13 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks, plus-minus +8 team-high. In the final, Cunningham scored a tie-high five points. After 21:20, Cunningham hit a crucial three-pointer to help the team gain the upper hand and eventually win the championship. After the competition, Cunningham was elected the MVP of this rookie tournament!
In a post-game interview, Cunningham bluntly said his next goal is to lead the Pistons to more wins and then hope to be named to the All-Star Roster.
As the 2021 draft pick, Cunningham currently averages 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game, but the Pistons are not doing well, currently ranking second from the bottom in the East with only 13 wins and 45 losses. Commenting on the performances of the season, Cunningham said: "We are growing and these are valuable lessons that we are experiencing so far, and I have learned a lot from them. I've grown a lot both as a player and as a person. ”
Finally, congratulations to Cunningham, the first individual trophy he has won since entering the NBA, I believe that the 20-year-old young player will achieve more in the future.