Two seasons ago, the Detroit Pistons were 2-28 — the worst start in modern NBA history. Cade Cunningham was injured, the roster was barren, and the franchise had become shorthand for institutional failure. On Saturday, Detroit closed the regular season at 59-22, locked into the second seed in the Eastern Conference. [1]

The turnaround belongs to Cunningham more than any other single factor. The 24-year-old averaged 25.3 points, 9.1 assists, and 6.2 rebounds this season while playing all 82 games. His playmaking turned a collection of lottery picks and mid-tier free agents into a cohesive offensive system that ranked fifth in efficiency. The from-2-to-59 arc is the most dramatic reversal in NBA history measured by wins within a two-year span.

The MVP conversation has been dominated by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, but Cunningham's case is harder to dismiss by the week. No player in the league improved his team's win total more. No franchise underwent a more complete transformation with the same cornerstone player.

Detroit enters the playoffs with home-court advantage through the second round and a fanbase that remembers what the bottom looked like. The NBA's best redemption story is not finished.

-- AMARA OKONKWO, Lagos