Pistons' Cade Cunningham Out Another Week With Collapsed Lung

The star guard will miss at least six more games as he recovers from the injury.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:28pm

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Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham will miss at least another week as he recovers from a collapsed lung suffered in a game against the Washington Wizards on March 17. Cunningham, who was having an MVP-caliber season, has already missed the last nine games for the Pistons. Despite his absence, the team has gone 7-2 and maintained their lead atop the Eastern Conference standings.

Why it matters

Cunningham's injury is a significant blow to the Pistons, who were hoping to have their star player healthy for a deep playoff run. However, the team has shown it can win without him, thanks in part to the strong play of guard Daniss Jenkins, who has stepped up in Cunningham's absence.

The details

Cunningham suffered the collapsed lung injury early in the first quarter of the March 17 game against the Wizards. The Pistons initially gave him a two-week timeline to be re-evaluated, but they have now announced he will need at least another week to recover. Through 61 games this season, Cunningham was averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game, putting him in the MVP conversation. Unfortunately, due to the NBA's new 65-game eligibility rule for end-of-season awards, Cunningham will not be eligible for the MVP or All-NBA teams, even if he returns before the end of the regular season.

  • On March 17, Cunningham suffered the collapsed lung injury in a game against the Washington Wizards.
  • After the initial two-week timeline, the Pistons announced Cunningham will need at least another week to recover.

The players

Cade Cunningham

The star guard for the Detroit Pistons who is sidelined with a collapsed lung injury.

Daniss Jenkins

The Pistons guard who has stepped up in Cunningham's absence, averaging 19.3 points per game over the last nine games.

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What’s next

The Pistons will continue to monitor Cunningham's recovery, and he is expected to be re-evaluated in another week to determine if he can return to the court.

The takeaway

Cunningham's injury is a setback for the Pistons, but the team has shown it can win without him thanks to the strong play of Daniss Jenkins. The Pistons' focus remains on a deep playoff run and potentially an NBA championship, even if Cunningham misses the remainder of the regular season.