Pistons' Cade Cunningham Out at Least Another Week with Lung Injury

Detroit's star guard continues to progress in recovery, but will miss more time as he heals from collapsed lung.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:20pm

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Detroit Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham will miss at least another week as he continues to recover from a collapsed lung injury suffered in a game against the Washington Wizards on March 17. Cunningham, who is averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game this season, exited the first quarter of that game after colliding with a Wizards player and diving for a loose ball. The Pistons announced Cunningham's lung injury on March 19 and said he would be re-evaluated in two weeks, but he will now miss at least another week as he progresses in his return-to-play process under the supervision of the team's medical staff.

Why it matters

Cunningham's absence is a significant blow to the Pistons, who are 55-21 on the season and in first place in the Eastern Conference. The 24-year-old guard has been a driving force behind the team's success, and his leadership and playmaking abilities will be missed as the Pistons push for the playoffs. The injury also puts Cunningham's eligibility for end-of-season awards like All-NBA in jeopardy, as he will likely fall short of the 65-game threshold.

The details

Cunningham exited the March 17 game against the Wizards with what was initially announced as back spasms, but further evaluation revealed a collapsed lung. The Pistons said Cunningham is making progress in his recovery, but the team wants to be cautious with his return to ensure he is fully healed before rejoining the lineup. The Pistons have just six games remaining in the regular season, and Cunningham will miss at least the next week, putting his availability for the final stretch in question.

  • On March 17, Cunningham exited the first quarter of the Pistons' game against the Wizards with a lung injury.
  • On March 19, the Pistons announced Cunningham's lung injury and said he would be re-evaluated in two weeks.
  • On April 2, the Pistons announced Cunningham will be re-evaluated in one week as he continues to progress in his recovery.

The players

Cade Cunningham

The Detroit Pistons' 24-year-old superstar guard who is averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game this season.

J.B. Bickerstaff

The head coach of the Detroit Pistons.

Tre Johnson

A rookie for the Washington Wizards who was involved in the collision with Cunningham that led to his lung injury.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously it's tough. Tough for Cade to go through what he's going through now. How important he is to the team, how important being with his team is to him. Doesn't make it easy. He's a huge part of what we do from a leadership standpoint, obviously. The talent's there but just being around him every single day makes people's days better, and we'll miss that on these trips.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons

What’s next

The Pistons will re-evaluate Cunningham's status in one week to determine if he can return to the lineup. If he is cleared, he will have just a few games remaining in the regular season to get back into game shape before the playoffs begin.

The takeaway

Cade Cunningham's lung injury is a significant setback for the Pistons, who have been one of the NBA's best teams this season. His leadership, playmaking, and scoring will be missed as the team pushes for a deep playoff run. However, the Pistons are taking a cautious approach with his recovery to ensure he is fully healthy before returning to the court, even if it means he falls short of the games played threshold for end-of-season awards.