Three Pistons Who Will Be Impacted Most by Cade Cunningham's Return

With Cade Cunningham back in control, here's a look at the three Detroit Pistons players who will be impacted the most by his return.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:38pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a Pistons basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, creating a sense of dynamic movement and energy on the court.Cade Cunningham's return to the Pistons lineup will require his teammates to adapt their roles and playing styles, creating a new dynamic on the court.Today in Detroit

Cade Cunningham has returned to the Detroit Pistons lineup after missing several games due to a collapsed lung. During his absence, several Pistons players stepped up, including Daniss Jenkins, Jalen Duren, and Tobias Harris. Now that Cunningham is back, the article examines how these three players' roles and performances may be affected by the star point guard's return.

Why it matters

Cunningham's return is a significant development for the Pistons, who have been resilient in his absence but will now need to integrate him back into the lineup. How the team's other key players adapt to Cunningham's return could be crucial to the Pistons' success as they make a playoff push.

The details

With Cunningham back, the Pistons' offense will once again flow through him. During his 11-game absence, Jenkins, Duren, and Harris all stepped up and played key roles in the team's success. Jenkins scored in double figures in every game but one, while Duren has been a leading scorer and rebounder for the Pistons this season. Harris also took on a larger scoring role in Cunningham's absence. Now that Cunningham is back, it remains to be seen how these players' roles and production will be impacted.

  • Cade Cunningham returned to the Pistons lineup on April 9, 2026.
  • During Cunningham's 11-game absence, the Pistons lost only three games.

The players

Daniss Jenkins

A Pistons player who stepped up in Cunningham's absence, scoring in double figures in all but one game and posting 20-plus point performances in three games.

Jalen Duren

A leading scorer and rebounder for the Pistons this season, Duren had a 21-point, 9-rebound, 3-assist performance in Cunningham's return game.

Tobias Harris

One of the Pistons' top scorers who took on a larger role in Cunningham's absence and will now look to be a valuable third option for the team in the playoffs.

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What’s next

With two games remaining in the regular season, the Pistons will look to integrate Cunningham back into the lineup and determine the optimal roles for Jenkins, Duren, and Harris as the team prepares for the playoffs.

The takeaway

Cunningham's return is a significant boost for the Pistons, but it will require some adjustments from the other key players who stepped up in his absence. How the team navigates these changes could be crucial to their success in the playoffs.