A possible next step in the development of Cade Cunningham will probably shift at least a little. The 2021 draft pick and Detroit Pistons star is reportedly out for the rest of the season pending surgery on his left tibia.
This is reported by Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN). Cunningham has obtained the opinions of various doctors over the past few weeks and decided last Monday, together with the Pistons and his representatives, to undergo the procedure. He should therefore be fully fit again by the start of the training camp before the 2023/24 season.
Cunningham, who has been off the court since November 9, has spent a month waiting to see if his leg would heal enough with rest and rehab. Previously, the tall guard featured in 12 games this season, similar to his debut season.
There he averaged 17.4 points with shooting splits of 41.6%/31.4%/84.5%, as well as 5.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals, and 3.7 turnovers per game on. In the race for Rookie of the Year, he finished third behind Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors.
The Detroit Pistons are currently bottom of the Eastern Conference with a record of 7-22. In Cunningham’s absence, young guards Killian Hayes and Jaden Ivey, also both top 7 picks, will remain the focus at the Motor City.
