Huge Blow To Pistons As Cunningham Injury More Serious Than Thought

The face of the Detroit Pistons franchise, Cade Cunningham, has missed the last five games due to a left shin injury. But according to reports on Saturday, depending on the treatment, it could even be season-ending. 

Cade Cunningham is feared to have a stress fracture in his injured shin and they’re going over their options, to choose from resting or surgery, per @ShamsCharania & @JLEdwardsIII

🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/nJBTZeB54M

— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) November 19, 2022

NBA Insider Shams Charania indicates that Cunningham is feared to have a stress fracture in his shin, and that the Pistons and the 21-year-old point guard have been trying to determine if surgery is needed. The injury has apparently been lingering since last season, but flared up seriously last week. 

And here's the really bad news for Detroit. According to sports injury expert Jeff Stotts, depending on the route they take, the injury could cost Cunningham the entire season. 

Re: Cade Cunningham: If he is managing a stress fracture of his tibia (shinbone), surgery would likely be season ending. The average time lost for stress-related tibia injuries that require surgery is 61 games.

— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) November 19, 2022

Stotts says surgery on a stress fracture of the tibia would likely be season-ending. He reports that the average time lost for stress-related tibia injuries that require surgery is 61 games. 

Cunningham, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, averaged 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists through the team's first 12 games before he went down with what didn't seem like a serious injury at the time. However, he shot 1-for-11 in his last game, so there was certainly a sign that something was wrong. 

Photo: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports