20+3 and 26+6! Harden’s talent is realized, Cunningham has evolved again, and there is no suspense about the number one player in the 21st class.

In the playoffs last season, the Knicks eliminated the Pistons 4-2. But Cunningham's performance is still crazy, and he plays a core style of holding the ball. Throughout the playoffs, CC averaged 25 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.33 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of 43%. Unfortunately, the three-point shooting percentage was only 18%, and he really didn't find the touch. But his influence is also the reason why the Pistons were able to get 2 wins from the Knicks. This is only Cunningham's first playoff appearance.

Compared to second place pick Jaylen Green of the same class, he averaged 13.3 points per game in the playoffs and shot 37.9% from the field. And when he scored 38 points once, he averaged only 13.3 points per game. This can already illustrate the huge gap between Cunningham and Jaylen Green. This is why CC is the No. 1 pick and Green is the No. 2 pick. Compared with Mobley, the No. 3 pick in the same class, and even Barnes and Suggs of the Five Kings, CC is also the most influential player in the 21st class. Perhaps the current threat to Cunningham is Shen Jing, the 16th pick.

If the rankings were re-ranked in 2021, Cunningham would be the top pick and Shen Jing would be the second pick. Obviously, the Rockets chose Shen Jing between Shen Jing and Jaylen Green, and sent Green away in exchange for Durant. Moreover, Cunningham and Shen Jing have improved at almost the same rate. In this year's preseason, Shen Jing played Jokic's style. Cunningham is a bit like James Harden. He played a total of 36 minutes in the two games and scored 46+9+10. Cunningham scored 26 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in 18 minutes against the Bucks. He scored 20 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists in 18 minutes against the Grizzlies. He is extremely efficient and scores like a bag.

Cunningham, who was in his fourth year last season, averaged 26.1 points, 6 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game, shooting 47% from the field and 36% from three-point range, averaging 2.1 hits per game. But Jaylen Green is standing still in his fourth year. Sometimes I think about the league being really unfair to the Rockets. Because the Rockets are qualified to get the No. 1 pick, but the league does not compensate the Rockets. If you look at the lottery rules of the league in recent years, as long as you send away the team's superstar, you will get the No. 1 pick if the team fails the next year.

For example, the Pelicans sent their thick eyebrows to the Lakers during the 2019 offseason, but the next year they got the No. 1 pick and selected the fat tiger Zion. And this year, the Mavericks sent Doncic to the Lakers. The result was that the lottery was the compensation for the No. 1 pick. The Mavericks got the cornerstone of Flagg. Do you think this could be luck? How could there be such a coincidence? Therefore, the Rockets sent Harden to the Nets in 2020, and they should have compensated for the No. 1 pick in 2021. As for this No. 1 pick, the Rockets were originally determined to get Cunningham.

The Rockets were frustrated with losing Harden in 2021, and Cunningham gave the Rockets the confidence to rise again. In terms of playing style, Cunningham can succeed Harden. The year before the 21st draft, almost everyone believed that the Rockets would receive compensation for the No. 1 pick. But unfortunately, the Pistons got the No. 1 pick. If this law is true, the Rockets won Cunningham with the No. 1 pick in 2021, then took Shenjing with the 16th pick, and now they introduce Durant. This is the Big Three, with an invincible lineup, and this does not include Amen Thompson.

Cunningham is also a player who will not affect the Rockets' continued bad luck in the lottery. Imagine that if the Rockets get the No. 1 pick, they don't need to bring in Van Jordan at all. They can even form three young players with their own rookies, Cunningham, Amen and Shen Jing. The Rockets are also the only one among the top three teams in Texas who did not win the No. 1 pick. The Spurs gave up to Wenban Yama in the first year. They selected Harper with the second pick this year and Castle last year. Wenban, Harper and Castle, the Spurs pulled the troika back together after three years of failure. Do you think this person is more annoying than others? Otherwise, the Rockets would still need to find a point guard. Cunningham, who is less than 24 years old, is very popular.