Cade Cunningham Misses 4 More Games, Awards Eligibility in Doubt

Pistons' Cade Cunningham sidelined, won't meet 65-game requirement

Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham to miss at least four more games due to injury, jeopardizing his NBA awards eligibility..

Cade Cunningham won't play enough games for MVP consideration after missing 15 games this season...

Cade Cunningham, the star player of the Detroit Pistons, is sidelined for at least another week due to a collapsed left lung. He's been out for eight games and will be re-evaluated next week. Cunningham's absence has been felt, but the Pistons are still topping the Eastern Conference with a 55-21 record.

Cunningham's injury has also put his eligibility for end-of-season awards in jeopardy. He needs to play in at least four more games to meet the NBA's 65-game threshold, but with only six games left, it looks unlikely. This is a tough break for Cunningham, who's been having a standout season with averages of 24.5 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds.

“Pistons guard Cade Cunningham continues to progress in his return to play process under the supervision of physicians and Pistons medical and performance staff,” the team said in a statement.

“He will be re-evaluated in one week.”

Official medical update on Cade Cunningham. pic.twitter.com/ae8m3u0hVN

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 2, 2026

He'll miss at least four more games, putting his chances of qualifying for NBA awards in jeopardy. He's already missed 15 games this season.

With only two games left after the current stretch, Cunningham won't meet the 65-game requirement for awards like MVP. The Pistons are trying to hold onto their top East seed bid, but Cunningham's absence hurts their playoff push. 

Cade Cunningham's stats are looking solid - 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game over 61 contests this season (he's a back-to-back All-Star!). Missing those four games puts his awards eligibility at risk, and now he won't hit the 65-game mark.