The Detroit Pistons Are Failing Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham is exhausted, but if the Detroit Pistons have any chance to make the Eastern Conference finals, he needs to be the one to get them there.

On Wednesday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Pistons in overtime, even with Cunningham’s best efforts to bring Detroit the victory: scoring 39 points along with nine assists.

If it wasn’t for Cunningham, the Pistons would have lost in the opening round to the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic.

Now, down 3-2 in another series and their backs firmly against the wall, everyone in Detroit is looking at Cunningham while the Oklahoma State product is turning his head around trying to find someone to help him in this dogfight.

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Although the Pistons secured the top seed in a weak Eastern Conference, the postseason has exposed their lack of a true duo next to Cunningham, who can take the pressure off him as the ace of the game in every aspect on the court.

He needs to be the best shooter on the court. He needs to be the best at the rim. He needs to be the best facilitator.

Tobias Harris looks 43 years old instead of 33 with how he’s playing, and Ausar Thompson’s evolution into an all-around player looks like it’s stalled, maybe even regressed.

If the Pistons lose this series, it’s not the end of the world. The Pistons are still a work in progress, and even a team like the current Oklahoma City Thunder needed to be humbled a bit before becoming the monster they’ve ultimately become.

But that doesn’t excuse the Pistons for burning out their workhorse in Cunningham. And as Detroit enters an offseason when star players will be available and big moves will be made, the Pistons can’t stand awkwardly in the corner.

Cunningham deserves better, and if the Detroit front office doesn’t know that, then no matter how good this season was for them, it’s not going to last very long.

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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 10:32 PM.