Cade Cunningham’s Collapsed Lung a Blow to Pistons and NBA, Says Kendrick Perkins

Fifth-year guard Cade Cunningham has vaulted himself to MVP conversations after his exploits have elevated the Detroit Pistons to best in the East.

Cade Cunningham’s Collapsed Lung a Blow to Pistons and NBA, Says Kendrick Perkins

Cade Cunningham and Kendrick Perkins (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Cade Cunningham has suffered a collapsed lung, leaving him out indefinitely.
  • Kendrick Perkins emphasizes the importance of Cunningham for the Pistons' playoff success.
  • Cunningham's recovery timeline remains uncertain, with a potential return before the postseason.

While helping his Detroit Pistons to the best record in the Eastern Conference, Cade Cunningham has vaulted himself to become one of the NBA’s best players this season.

The 24-year-old has overcome initial doubts from fans and the media that the franchise may not have thought it through when drafting him No. 1 overall in the 2021 Draft.

Those doubts were mostly fueled by the crisis the Pistons were under, but thankfully, he has been the catalyst for the uptick in performances that have taken place at Little Caesars Arena.

After last season’s playoff heartbreak, Cunningham vowed not to allow for a repeat and has spearheaded his team to almost surpass the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder for the league’s best record.

Well, that was before they surprisingly lost four straight games earlier this month. Since then, they have recovered, but will now, with Cade Cunningham‘s latest injury, find it tougher to stay on top of the East with a fully healthy Boston Celtics breathing down their neck.

We need Cade Cunningham. The league needs him. Us as fans, we wanna see him in the big moment of the postseason. When he’s available, the Detroit Pistons are a legit title contender. When he’s not, they are a first-round exit. That’s how valuable he is.

Kendrick Perkins said on NBA Today

The former NBA champion provided logic to his opinion by stating that without the Oklahoma State alum, the entire playoffs could change course.

This was Kendrick Perkins‘ reaction after it was revealed that the Pistons star has suffered a collapsed lung, leaving him out indefinitely.

Kendrick Perkins believes playoffs will be dull without Cade Cunningham

Later, while on his Road Trippin’ podcast, Kendrick Perkins expanded on his opinion on how, without Cade Cunningham’s exciting performances, the 2026 playoffs could be a dull affair.

Hopefully, he comes back, like right before the playoffs start. Because we need Cade in the playoffs. We are on the verge of having one of the best playoffs, like moments. We don’t know what’s going to happen, full of superstars, guys playing at an elite level. But they need him like old people need soft shoes.

Kendrick Perkins said

The former Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder center believes that if the 6’6″ guard does not return in time for the playoffs, the excitement will not be the same.

That is because without him, his former teams, the Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, will have an easier run. Now, there is genuine fear that a Cunningham-led Pistons are better than the other teams in the East. That will change without him.

Cade Cunningham could return earlier than expected

Cade Cunningham exited after five minutes into their game against the Washington Wizards with back spasms. However, the Pistons’ luck turned for the worse when it was announced that he suffered a collapsed lung.

Cade Cunningham left the Wizards game with back spasms
Cade Cunningham left the Wizards game with back spasms (Image via WGTB Pod/X)

It is a rare injury in the NBA, and there is no clear pattern for how fast he can recover. That is why initially, he was designated as being out indefinitely. However, later, it was revealed that he would be re-evaluated in two weeks.

That is because the last player to face this, CJ McCollum, suffered it twice. The first time the underrated guard underwent this struggle, he took six weeks to return to action.

The second time he faced this was in 2023, and at that time, he returned in less than a month. If Cade Cunningham is out for that long, he could lace up just in time for the postseason.

As Kendrick Perkins mentioned, his return is imperative for the Pistons. Therefore, the guard and his medical staff should be doing whatever is necessary for him to recover as early as possible.

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