Cunningham, a former No. 1 over-all draft pick, had room for improvement. In his third season at the time—he’d missed much of the previous one with a leg injury—he could be inconsistent, sloppy with turnovers, and wasn’t a great three-point shooter. He wasn’t the fastest player on the floor, either. But he had a quick mind and a big body, especially for a point guard. He also had a degree of fortitude and an instinct to lead. He endured loss after loss with a stoic look, exaggerated by his hollow cheeks and a mouth that turns down at the corners. After the Nets game, he took responsibility for the embarrassing record. “A lot of this load is trusted to me, on the court and in the locker room,” Cunningham said. “Every day, I try to lead the squad, and I haven’t been successful at that—2–28. It’s only right that I speak for it and be the face of it.”