Cade Cunningham vs. Mel Payton Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Payton and Cade Cunningham that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2025-26
Cade Cunningham: 2021-22 to 2025-26
Mel Payton: 1951-52 to 1952-53

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Cade Cunningham 0 Mel Payton 0

NBA Seasons Cade Cunningham 5 Mel Payton 2

Playoffs Played Cade Cunningham 1 Mel Payton 2

All-Star Games Cade Cunningham 1 Mel Payton 0

Honors and Awards

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Cade Cunningham 1 Mel Payton 0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Cade Cunningham 22.0 Mel Payton 5.4

Rebounds Per Game Cade Cunningham 5.4 Mel Payton 3.6

Assists Per Game Cade Cunningham 7.4 Mel Payton 1.1

Steals Per Game Cade Cunningham 1.0 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Cade Cunningham 0.6 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Cade Cunningham 4,669 Mel Payton 595

Total Rebounds Cade Cunningham 1,143 Mel Payton 396

Total Assists Cade Cunningham 1,561 Mel Payton 126

Total Steals Cade Cunningham 216 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks Cade Cunningham 128 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games Cade Cunningham 212 Mel Payton 111

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Cade Cunningham .444 Mel Payton .363

3-Point Percentage Cade Cunningham .337 Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Cade Cunningham .851 Mel Payton .746

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Cade Cunningham 26.1 (2025) Mel Payton 7.1 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game Cade Cunningham 6.2 (2023) Mel Payton 4.7 (1953)

Assists Per Game Cade Cunningham 9.1 (2025) Mel Payton 1.2 (1953)

Steals Per Game Cade Cunningham 1.2 (2022) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Cade Cunningham 0.8 (2025) Mel Payton - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Cade Cunningham 25.0 Mel Payton 5.0

Rebounds Per Game Cade Cunningham 8.3 Mel Payton 1.8

Assists Per Game Cade Cunningham 8.7 Mel Payton 0.2

Steals Per Game Cade Cunningham 1.8 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Cade Cunningham 1.3 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Cade Cunningham 150 Mel Payton 25

Total Rebounds Cade Cunningham 50 Mel Payton 9

Total Assists Cade Cunningham 52 Mel Payton 1

Total Steals Cade Cunningham 11 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks Cade Cunningham 8 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games Cade Cunningham 6 Mel Payton 5

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Cade Cunningham .426 Mel Payton .421

3-Point Percentage Cade Cunningham .179 Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Cade Cunningham .833 Mel Payton .900

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Cade Cunningham 25.0 (2025) Mel Payton 10.5 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game Cade Cunningham 8.3 (2025) Mel Payton 3.0 (1953)

Assists Per Game Cade Cunningham 8.7 (2025) Mel Payton 0.3 (1952)

Steals Per Game Cade Cunningham 1.8 (2025) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Cade Cunningham 1.3 (2025) Mel Payton - n/a **

Notes: ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.