- Cade Cunningham’s father Keith Cunningham was a former football quarterback for Texas Tech, but an injury he sustained the day he was to join the team saw him play with them for two years
- Cade’s mother is the only member of the Cunningham’s family that never competed in any sporting activity; she plays a supportive role
- His father is an African-American, while his mother is Caucasian
Keith Cunningham and Carrie Cunningham are the parents of 24-year-old Cade Cunningham, an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. Both parents played key roles in their son’s carrier; with Keith playing a coaching role, and Carrier an adviser. These roles stem from his father’s experience as a high school footballer and one of the top quarterback recruits in the Southwest of Arlington, Texas, while that of his mother was born out of her passion for him to reach his dream.
Here is what we have been able to gather about the parents of the Texas-born and how they have been supportive of his basketball dream.
Meet Cade Cunningham’s Parents
The Cunninghams, especially the parents are discreet about revealing personal details of their lives and family to the public. So, at the time of compiling this article, there is a dearth of information on them. Most of what is known about them revolve around their youngest son Cade who put them in the spotlight alongside their two oldest children; Cannen and Kaylyn.
Moreover, both are from different ethnicities. Keith is an African-American, while Carrie is Caucasian.
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Keith Cunningham Was A Top Quarterback Recruit From Arlington, Texas, In The 1980s
Cade Cunningham’s father Keith Cunningham is a native of Arlington, Texas, where he attended Sam Houston High School, played football, and became one of the best in the area in the 1980s. By the time he became a senior, Keith was named District 5A-7 Offensive Player of the year, and also emerged as one of the highly-rated quarterback recruits in the Southwest of Arlington, Texas.
Consequently, he caught the attention of powerful programs such as Arkansas and SMU which brought offers, but he opted for Texas Tech. Sadly, tragedy struck at his mother’s house on the day he was moving to Lubbock; he lifted a bed that hit a rotating ceiling fan which falls and cut his throwing arm. The injury forced him to quit playing for the Red Raiders two years later and subsequently had a shortlived semi-pro career.
Years later, the spirit of athletism still burned in him. He kept it alive by passing it on to his three children- Cannen, Kaylyn, and Cade. So, he became a mentor and coach to them. His youngest son, Cade is the active athlete in the family currently playing as point guard for Detroit Pistons of the NBA, while his oldest Cannen was a former SMU standout forward and currently managing the former’s career after stepping down as the assistant coach of Oklahoma State in April 2021.
Talking about coaching his youngest son, Keith was there right from the beginning teaching Cade how to dribble with one hand which is why he is a point guard today. Even though he never understood why his father and then-coach treated him differently, he had no idea if dribbling with one hand will help him.
While he was coaching and mentoring his children, he spent most of his days working as a switchboard mechanic and lead foreman at Siemens.
Carrie Cunningham Played The Role Of A Supportive Mother
Cade Cunningham’s mother Carrie Cunningham is the only member of the family that had nothing to do with sports if not for her husband and three children. So, she plays the role of a supportive mother, removing her emotions and allowing whatever decision is best for her children. This played out when Cade was joining the Montverde Academy in Florida, and she didn’t want him to go, but she allowed it after having a deep thought. It became clear to her that her son’s skill and maturity had outgrown the level of competition in high schools in Arlington, Texas.
She said her son is a good person and she is proud of what he had acheived. As a result of this bond she shares with him, Cade calls her his rock, and he is sure she and his father will always be there to love and support him no matter the circumstances.
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