The Detroit Pistons may have to finish the 2025-26 NBA regular season without their undisputed best player, Cade Cunningham.
On Thursday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the former Oklahoma State Cowboys star has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and will be out for “an extended period of time.”
Cunningham saw action in the Pistons’ most recent game, Tuesday’s meeting with the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. However, he played only five minutes before exiting the game due to a back spasm.
The timing of Cunningham’s lung injury adds even more concern for the Pistons, as they have only 14 games left in the regular season before the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Detroit is a virtual lock to make the postseason with a 49-19 record, but the Pistons are not the same team without Cunningham, who leads the team in points (24.5) and assists (9.9) per game. The Pistons are at their best when they have Cunningham on the floor, and it is going to be tough filling the void he’s temporarily leaving. His 4.5 Value Over Replacement Player (VORP) speaks volumes about his importance to the Pistons.
Charania, however, said there is a good chance Cunningham will be back in action once the playoffs begin.
For now, the Pistons’ depth, particularly in the backcourt, will be tested as they weather Cunningham’s absence.
