The Detroit Pistons’ rise to the top of the Eastern Conference has been fueled by Cade Cunningham, who is in the middle of a true breakout season. The 24-year-old guard has led the charge with elite consistency and efficiency, firmly placing himself in MVP conversations. However, that momentum took a sudden hit after he suffered a collapsed lung, an injury expected to sideline him for the remainder of the regular season.

A recent stat perfectly captures just how dominant Cunningham has been this season. He has recorded five games with at least 25 points, 10 assists, two steals, and two blocks, the most in a single season since 1973–74. In doing so, he has surpassed names like Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Dončić, all of whom recorded four such games in a season.

Through 61 games, Cunningham has averaged 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 51.9% from the field. More importantly, Detroit has leaned heavily on his playmaking, posting strong results in games he has led. While the Pistons have managed to stay competitive without him, they will need their floor general at full strength once the playoffs begin.

There was initial optimism about Cunningham returning before the playoffs. However, the Pistons shut that down on Thursday, confirming he will remain sidelined for at least another week before a re-evaluation determines next steps. As a result, he is now unlikely to meet the NBA’s 65-game minimum requirement, a rule introduced to ensure award winners play the majority of the season, effectively taking him out of contention for major postseason honors.

Fans rally behind Cade Cunningham as his dominant season resurfaces amid injury setback

Cunningham has been one of the most dominant players in the league this season. His ball-handling, playmaking, and scoring have elevated the Pistons to the top tier of the Eastern Conference, with consistent appearances on the MVP ladder before the injury halted his momentum.

“So unfortunate for Cade man,” a user wrote on X, highlighting Cunningham’s dominance in the league, and despite that, his missing out on the postseason awards is brutal. However, he is not the first player to miss out on the awards due to the 65-game criteria, as players like LeBron James and Stephen Curry have also missed out in the past. Cunningham should take motivation from this and bring that same energy to the playoffs whenever he returns. The Pistons have a great roster, and with the star guard possibly returning to action, they could gun for the Championship.

“Pistons need Cade Cunningham back and healthy asap,” another netizen expressed their concern following the latest update on Cunningham’s health. While the Pistons have an 11-4 record with the 24-year-old guard, he is the floor general that the team needs, with his leadership, scoring ability, and agility to run the offense. The Pistons may win some games without him, but they would need him the most when the playoffs come around.

“Let him stand in the corner for a couple games to meet the threshold,” a fan came up with a hilarious take on the situation. Cunningham has played 61 games until now, and he needs four more games to be eligible for the postseason awards, something that’s not gonna happen as he is out for another game. With six games left to play for the Pistons in the regular season, they would prefer him to be fully fit in the playoffs rather than rushing him back to the court.

“I’m disappointed that Cade is not going to hit 65 games to be eligible for All NBA — because he deserves it,” another Pistons fan expressed their distress around the situation. Had Cunningham touched the threshold of 65 games, then he would surely be on the NBA first-team, which is a big thing for a young point guard. Similarly, he was in MVP conversations, and even after getting injured and missing a few games in the final stretch of the regular season, he could very well finish in the top five in the MVP race. “Even though mvp was jokers award before the injury, I feel worse for Cade missing out on his awards,” another fan shared the same sentiment around Cunningham missing out on the postseason awards after such a breakthrough season in the NBA.

This season has already established Cunningham as one of the league’s rising stars. While missing out on awards is a frustrating outcome, the bigger picture remains unchanged. If he returns at full strength, Detroit still has the pieces to make a deep playoff run, and that stage could ultimately matter far more than any regular-season accolade.