Pistons' Cade Cunningham might've had the best missed free throw in the history of basketball

Billy Heyen

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Pistons' Cade Cunningham might've had the best missed free throw in the history of basketball image

There may never have been a better missed free throw in the history of basketball than this one by Detroit Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham.

Taking on the Orlando Magic in NBA Cup action on Friday night, Cunningham had no choice but to try and intentionally miss the shot from the foul line, down three points with less than five seconds to play.

Many players will try to put it up there off the back rim, or softly enough that it sort of rolls off.

Not Cade.

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He rocketed the ball right at the front of the rim, and it came right back to him.

That set Cunningham up to toss the ball out for a Duncan Robinson 3-point attempt.

Orlando's Anthony Black may have gotten away with some extra physical defense on the Robinson shot attempt, which came up well short to end the game.

But man, Cunningham deserves points just for this:

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He could do that 100 more times and not do it again.

The angles and timing and rhythm of all of this is so unusual. And even each rim is ever so slightly different.

But this has to be exactly how Cunningham drew it up. It's precise and perfect. It just didn't result in a game-tying shot, which is too bad.

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Editorial Team