Former Oklahoma State stars Cade Cunningham and Marcus Smart are shining in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Cunningham is dropping 30+ points for the Pistons, while Smart’s veteran grit powers the Lakers.
Two former Oklahoma State Cowboys are making their mark in the 2026 NBA Playoffs first round, reminding fans why Stillwater remains a pipeline for professional talent.
Cade Cunningham, the dynamic point guard who starred for the Cowboys in the 2020-21 season before becoming the No. 1 overall pick, is carrying the Detroit Pistons on his back with elite scoring.
Meanwhile, Marcus Smart, who led Oklahoma State to the Elite Eight in 2013-14 and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors during his college days, has emerged as a vital veteran role player for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Both alumni are showing the toughness and skill they developed under the OSU program as their teams battle in the opening playoff round.
For Marcus Smart and the Lakers, the 2025-26 regular season was a story of steady contribution and championship pedigree.
Smart averaged a modest 9.3 points per game but provided invaluable intangibles, defensive intensity, leadership, and clutch playmaking, that helped stabilize the Lakers’ backcourt and push them into the postseason.
Now in the first round against the Houston Rockets, Smart has elevated his game significantly. Through five games, he is posting 16.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 49% from the field and 44% from three-point range.
His role as a do-it-all guard has been crucial: Smart is locking down opposing guards, sparking fast breaks with steals, and knocking down timely threes. Lakers coaches and teammates have praised his veteran presence, noting how his energy on both ends has kept the series competitive and given Los Angeles a fighting chance.
Whether it’s a chase down block or a perfectly timed kick-out pass, Smart’s helpful role player ability has been on full display, proving that experience and defensive grit still win in the playoffs.
Across the bracket, Cade Cunningham has been nothing short of spectacular for the Detroit Pistons in their first-round matchup against the Orlando Magic.
After a breakout regular season in which he averaged 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 9.9 assists, numbers that cemented his status as one of the league’s brightest young stars, Cunningham has taken his scoring to another level in the postseason.
Through the first five games of the series, he is averaging an eye-popping 32.6 points per game. His heroics reached new heights in Game 5, where he dropped a franchise playoff-record 45 points on 13-of-23 shooting, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc and a perfect 14-of-14 from the free-throw line. That performance forced a Game 6 and staved off elimination for one more night.
Earlier in the series, he poured in 39 points in Game 1, repeatedly attacking the paint and dissecting the Magic’s defense with step-back threes and no-look passes. Cunningham’s point-scoring ability has been the Pistons’ lifeline, turning potential blowouts into dogfights and giving Detroit a legitimate chance despite the odds.
Yet the Pistons now find themselves facing elimination, trailing the Magic 3-2 heading into Game 6. Orlando’s depth and defensive length have tested Detroit all series, but Cunningham’s individual brilliance has kept the series alive. If the Pistons hope to advance, they will need another vintage scoring outburst from their former Oklahoma State star.
Both players credit their Oklahoma State roots for preparing them for these moments. The Cowboys’ culture of toughness, defensive discipline, and unselfish play clearly translated to the NBA.
Smart’s relentless motor and Cunningham’s floor-general instincts trace directly back to their time in Stillwater, where legendary coach Mike Boynton and the program instilled the habits that now shine on the biggest stage.
As the first round continues, Smart’s steady veteran impact for the Lakers and Cunningham’s explosive scoring for the Pistons highlight the legacy of Oklahoma State basketball. Whether the Lakers push deeper or the Pistons pull off a comeback, these two Cowboys are proving that success in the NBA often starts with the foundation built in college.