Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and is expected to be sidelined for an extended period, ESPN reports.
Cunningham, 23, was selected first overall by the Pistons in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma State University.[1] He earned his first NBA All-Star selection in 2024.[2]
Through 27 games in the 2024-25 season, Cunningham is averaging 26.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game.[1] His career averages stand at 20.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists over 217 regular-season games.[1]
The Pistons posted a 14-68 record in the 2023-24 season, including an NBA-record 28-game losing streak, under coach Monty Williams, who was fired after one year on what was then the league's richest coaching contract.[3][4]
The team hired J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach ahead of the 2024-25 season.[5] The Pistons hold the 11th position in the Eastern Conference standings as of December 22, 2024.[6]
The NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 19, 2025.[7] For context, Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum missed 17 games in 2021 after a collapsed lung diagnosis and five games in 2023 following a similar issue.[8][9]
Sources
- NBA.com
Cade Cunningham Player Profile
Accessed December 22, 2024
https://www.nba.com/player/1631119/cade-cunningham - NBA.com
2024 NBA All-Star Reserves Announced
February 5, 2024
https://www.nba.com/news/2024-nba-all-star-roster-reserves - Wikipedia
2023–24 Detroit Pistons season
Accessed December 22, 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023%E2%80%9324_Detroit_Pistons_season - ESPN
Monty Williams fired by Pistons 1 year into $78 million deal
April 17, 2024
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37604286/monty-williams-fired-pistons-1-year-78-million-deal - Detroit Pistons (official site)
J.B. Bickerstaff Named Head Coach
May 21, 2024
https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/jb-bickerstaff-named-head-coach - NBA.com
2024-25 NBA Standings
Accessed December 22, 2024
https://www.nba.com/standings - Wikipedia
2025 NBA playoffs
Accessed December 22, 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_NBA_playoffs - ESPN
CJ McCollum has collapsed lung, Blazers say
March 12, 2021
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31147351/cj-mccollum-collapsed-lung-portland-trail-blazers-say - ESPN
Sources: CJ McCollum of Pelicans suffer pneumothorax lung issue again
February 8, 2023
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35646971/sources-cj-mccollum-pelicans-suffer-pneumothorax-lung-issue-again
