Blog Introduction: The Detroit Pistons have been dealt a major blow, as their top draft pick, Cade Cunningham, will undergo surgery on his left shin that will end his sophmore season. It's a tough pill to swallow for the team, who were looking forward to the potential of what Cunningham could bring to the table this season.
The Injury and Its Effects
Cunningham suffered the injury during practice last week and was initially diagnosed with a left ankle sprain. After further evaluation and testing, it was discovered that he actually had a stress fracture in his left shin—an injury which requires surgery in order for it to heal properly. The surgery is expected to take place sometime next month and will require an extended recovery period before Cunningham is able to hit the court once again.
The news came as a shock to many fans of the Pistons, who had high hopes for what Cunningham would be able to do this season. He was selected with the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft after an impressive freshman season at Oklahoma State University where he averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists per game while shooting 44% from three-point range. His size (6'8"), athleticism and skill set made him an attractive prospect for any team looking for a point guard who can create plays both on offense and defense.
How It Affects the Team Going Forward
Unfortunately, this news means that Detroit’s plans for this coming season have been drastically altered due to Cunningham’s absence. Without him on the floor, they’ll need other players such as Jerami Grant or Josh Jackson to step up in order for them to compete at a high level in 2021–2022. They’ll also have to rely more heavily on veteran players such as Derrick Rose or Blake Griffin if they want any chance of making it into postseason play this year.
It’s certainly not ideal news for Pistons fans everywhere, but all hope isn't lost just yet. Though Cade Cunningham won't be able to suit up this year due to his injury, Detroit still has plenty of talent on their roster who can help them make some noise throughout the rest of their regular season schedule—and potentially even make a playoff run come mid-April. It may not be quite as exciting as having their top draft pick playing alongside them come Opening Day, but there are still plenty of reasons why Pistons fans should remain optimistic about what lies ahead for their team in 2021–2022.
The Injury and Its Effects
Cunningham suffered the injury during practice last week and was initially diagnosed with a left ankle sprain. After further evaluation and testing, it was discovered that he actually had a stress fracture in his left shin—an injury which requires surgery in order for it to heal properly. The surgery is expected to take place sometime next month and will require an extended recovery period before Cunningham is able to hit the court once again.
The news came as a shock to many fans of the Pistons, who had high hopes for what Cunningham would be able to do this season. He was selected with the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft after an impressive freshman season at Oklahoma State University where he averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists per game while shooting 44% from three-point range. His size (6'8"), athleticism and skill set made him an attractive prospect for any team looking for a point guard who can create plays both on offense and defense.
How It Affects the Team Going Forward
Unfortunately, this news means that Detroit’s plans for this coming season have been drastically altered due to Cunningham’s absence. Without him on the floor, they’ll need other players such as Jerami Grant or Josh Jackson to step up in order for them to compete at a high level in 2021–2022. They’ll also have to rely more heavily on veteran players such as Derrick Rose or Blake Griffin if they want any chance of making it into postseason play this year.
It’s certainly not ideal news for Pistons fans everywhere, but all hope isn't lost just yet. Though Cade Cunningham won't be able to suit up this year due to his injury, Detroit still has plenty of talent on their roster who can help them make some noise throughout the rest of their regular season schedule—and potentially even make a playoff run come mid-April. It may not be quite as exciting as having their top draft pick playing alongside them come Opening Day, but there are still plenty of reasons why Pistons fans should remain optimistic about what lies ahead for their team in 2021–2022.