Trending Now - Cade Cunningham Out Indefinitely Due to Collapsed Lung Injury
WHO:
J.B. Bickerstaff is the head coach of the Detroit Pistons.
Cade Cunningham is a 24-year-old guard for the Detroit Pistons.
Shams Charania is a source for ESPN reporting on Cunningham's condition.
Cade Cunningham, 24, is a guard for the Detroit Pistons.
The Detroit Pistons are an NBA team.
Monty Williams is the head coach of the Detroit Pistons.
WHAT:
Cade Cunningham was the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma State.
Cunningham has averaged 22.6 points, 7.9 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game over his career.
The Pistons have 14 games remaining in the season, including the game against the Washington Wizards on March 19, 2026.
The average missed time for a player with a pneumothorax is around 26 days and 11 missed games.
The Pistons' net rating drops from 121.5 with Cunningham to 112 without him.
The Pistons have a .502 winning percentage among the remaining teams on their schedule.
If Cunningham misses as much time as C.J. McCollum did with his first collapsed lung, he could miss all or part of the first round of the playoffs.
While Cunningham is out, Marcus Sasser, Daniss Jenkins, and Caris LeVert are expected to take on more ball-handling and play-making responsibilities.
The Pistons are currently 50-19 after their win against the Washington Wizards on March 19, 2026.
The Pistons have improved to 6-2 in games without Cunningham this season.
Cunningham will be re-evaluated in two weeks from March 19, 2026.
Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a left lung pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and will be out at least two weeks.
The Pistons are 5-2 without Cunningham, with wins over the Chicago Bulls (twice), Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Philadelphia 76ers, and losses to the LA Clippers and Brooklyn Nets.
Only eight players in NBA history have finished a season averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists, and Cunningham would be the first to do so in a Detroit uniform.
The collapse of Cunningham's lung is considered mild.
Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game this season, which is the second most in the NBA.
Cunningham has played 61 games this season, just short of the 65-game threshold required for eligibility for league awards.
Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung.
Cunningham is expected to miss an extended period of time.
Cunningham averaged 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game this season.
The Pistons have a record of 49 wins and 19 losses.
The Pistons are 3.5 games ahead of the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings.
Cunningham was named an All-Star for the last two seasons.
Last year, Cunningham finished seventh in the MVP vote.
Since the start of the 2024-25 season, Cunningham has averaged 25.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game.
The Pistons set the all-time record for the longest losing streak in NBA history at 28 games three seasons ago.
WHERE:
The Detroit Pistons are based in Detroit, Michigan.
The game against the Washington Wizards took place at Capital One Arena.
WHEN:
The regular season will end on April 7, 2026.
The Pistons' playoff run will begin on April 18 or 19, 2026.
Cunningham left the game against the Washington Wizards on March 17, 2026, with 6:40 remaining in the first quarter.
The Pistons entered Thursday, March 17th, 2026, with the best record in the Eastern Conference.
The playoffs are set to begin on April 18, 2026.
Cunningham left the game against the Washington Wizards on March 17, 2026.
Cunningham has played 61 games this season.
WHY:
Coach Bickerstaff stated, “Obviously, it’s tough... He’s a huge part of what we do from a leadership standpoint.”
Cunningham appeared to suffer an injury early in the first quarter while diving for a loose ball.
The cause of Cunningham's injury was described as back spasms, which occurred while diving for a loose ball.
HOW:
Cunningham left the game against the Washington Wizards with 6:40 remaining in the first quarter after colliding with Tre Johnson.
Cunningham collided with Washington’s Tre Johnson while diving for a loose basketball with 7:44 left in the first quarter.
The Pistons are still gathering information on Cunningham's condition and are unsure how long he will be sidelined.
The Pistons are gathering information on Cunningham's condition to determine how long he will be sidelined.
(UPDATED March 20, 2026 11:07 UTC)
In a significant blow to the Detroit Pistons, Cade Cunningham, the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is facing a potential absence due to a pneumothorax, which could sideline him for around 26 days. Over his career, Cunningham has averaged 22.6 points, 7.9 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game, and his presence is crucial, as the Pistons' net rating drops significantly without him. With 14 games remaining in the season, including a matchup against the Washington Wizards, players like Marcus Sasser, Daniss Jenkins, and Caris LeVert are expected to step up in his absence.
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(UPDATED March 20, 2026 07:19 UTC)
The Detroit Pistons, led by head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, are enjoying a strong season with a record of 50 wins and 19 losses following their recent victory over the Washington Wizards. The team has shown resilience, improving to six wins and two losses in games without star player Cunningham, who will be re-evaluated in two weeks after leaving the game due to an injury. With the regular season set to conclude on April 7, Bickerstaff acknowledged Cunningham's importance, saying, “Obviously, it’s tough... He’s a huge part of what we do from a leadership standpoint.”
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(UPDATED March 19, 2026 21:10 UTC)
Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a left lung pneumothorax, which means he will be sidelined for at least two weeks. Despite his absence, the Pistons have managed to go five wins and two losses, securing victories against teams like the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers. Cunningham, who left the game against the Washington Wizards last Monday after a collision, was on track to become the first player in Detroit history to average 24.5 points and 9.9 assists in a season.
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(UPDATED March 19, 2026 17:23 UTC)
Cade Cunningham, the 24-year-old guard for the Detroit Pistons, is dealing with a mild lung collapse after suffering an injury while diving for a loose ball during a game last Thursday. Currently, he’s averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game this season, putting him second in the NBA, but he has played just 61 games, falling short of the 65-game threshold for league awards eligibility. The Pistons are still gathering information on his condition and are uncertain about how long he will be sidelined.
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(UPDATED March 19, 2026 15:17 UTC)
In a significant blow to the Detroit Pistons, guard Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and is expected to miss an extended period of time after leaving the game against the Washington Wizards on March 17. This season, Cunningham has been a standout player, averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game, and he was named an All-Star for the last two seasons. The Pistons, currently leading the Eastern Conference with a record of 49 wins and 19 losses, are now gathering information on Cunningham's condition as they prepare for the playoffs beginning on April 18.