Background
Cunningham was born in Clinton, Maryland, to Searcy Blankenship and Ron Cunningham.
Cunningham was born in Clinton, Maryland, to Searcy Blankenship and Ron Cunningham.
Villanova University.
Cunningham was drafted in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2009 National Basketball Association draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. Cunningham, a forward, played college basketball with the Villanova Wildcats. Cunningham began his prep career at Saint John"s College High School in Washington, District of Columbia While a junior, he averaged 10 points per game and 7.4 rebounds.
One of his teammates, Dwayne Anderson, would later play at Villanova with Cunningham.
As a senior, Cunningham transferred to Potomac High School, which he led to a 27–0 season under Head Coach Rico Reed. He averaged 13 rebounds, 20 points, and four blocked shots per game at Potomac.
At Villanova University, Cunningham played in all 33 games and was a starter in four during his freshman year. He led the Wildcats to their first Final Four appearance since 1985.
Cunningham was drafted 33rd overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2009 National Basketball Association draft.
He played for Portland"s Las Vegas Summer League team where he averaged over 18 points and 5 rebounds per game in four contests. On August 21, 2009, Cunningham signed his rookie scale contract with the Trail Blazers. On February 24, 2011, Cunningham was traded, along with Joel Przybilla, Sean Marks and two future first-round draft picks, to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Gerald Wallace.
On December 20, 2011, Cunningham received a three-year, $7 million offer sheet from the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Bobcats declined to match the offer and subsequently signed the contract with the Grizzlies. On July 24, 2012, Cunningham was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Wayne Ellington.
On December 4, 2014, Cunningham signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. On July 9, 2015, he re-signed with the Pelicans.
On April 3, 2014, Cunningham was arrested for allegedly choking his girlfriend with whom he lived.
Three days later, he was arrested on alleged domestic abuse charges. By August 18, 2014, charges were dropped, due to evidence Cunningham"s then girlfriend had fabricated her accusations. Cunningham was included on a preliminary list for Great Britain"s Eurobasket 2009 qualifying matches in 2008.
However, he was later ruled ineligible to compete for Britain after an investigation by British Basketball officials into his ancestral ties failed to prove his case to receive United Kingdom citizenship.