Basketball Insiders and Fans toss around basketball comparisons all the time, usually without much thought. But sometimes, one actually sticks. When Brandon Roy said he saw some of himself in Cade Cunningham, he wasn’t just hyping the kid up. He meant it. Roy noticed how Cade reads defenders and finds his way through tight spaces, the little things that don’t show up on the stat sheet but separate the good from the great.
“There are similarities,” Roy said, talking about Cunningham’s feel for the game and how he deals with pressure. That’s the kind of praise that really means something. Roy’s not just any ex-All-Star throwing compliments around. His own career got cut short, but people who really know basketball still talk about his impact. He played with a kind of control and patience you don’t see every day—stuff that lasts even when your athletic edge starts to fade.
“I mean, Brandon Roy, he was a legend in my eyes,” said Cunningham. “He was special. Do it all, both hands inside, outside game.”
You could say the same about Cade. When he’s got it going, he never looks rushed. He knows how to use space, draw contact, and force defenders into mistakes. He doesn’t need to blow by guys—he just waits for the right moment. It’s all timing.
Roy was special because he could slow the game down without killing the flow. He scored however he wanted, but the real magic was in knowing when to attack. He worked on switches, found his spots in the midrange, and leaned on his strength and footwork instead of pure speed.
Now, you’re starting to see Cade do the same things as he grows into his NBA role.
“So, I mean to be even compared, I feel honored,” Cunningham said. “I would love to be compared to [him]. I think it’s a cool comparison.”
That’s real humility, but there’s more to it. Cade didn’t just say thanks and move on—he admitted he’s actually tried to add pieces of Roy’s game to his own.
“So, I definitely have tried to implement things from his game into mine.”
That’s where the comparison really matters. Cade talks about watching film, and focusing on angles and pacing, not just highlights and flashy plays. In today’s NBA, where everyone wants to play fast and space the floor, he’s not afraid to get physical and solve problems in the half-court.
Like Roy, Cade is comfortable in tight spaces. He’ll post up guards, wiggle past help defenders, and finish with either hand. The lane gets crowded, but he doesn’t freak out. He just takes a beat, maybe throws a fake, and waits for the defense to mess up.
There’s a leadership thing there, too. Roy led with quiet confidence—people respected him because he showed up and delivered, not because he made a bunch of noise. Cade’s following that path in Detroit. He got handed a lot of responsibility early, with big expectations on his shoulders. Neither guy needed theatrics. Their games did the talking.
Sure, being compared to someone doesn’t mean you’ll have the same career. Roy’s story is a reminder that even the best can get unlucky. But the way they play—their style—makes this comparison hit home, especially for players who know the game inside out. It’s about feel, not flash.
For Cade, it’s not about chasing a label. It’s about fitting into a line of guards who understand that basketball rewards the smartest plays, not just the loudest.
If Cade keeps building on that, people will keep seeing the connection Roy pointed out—and it’ll be harder to ignore.
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