Cade Cunningham Injury: Will Pistons PG Be Ready For '23-24 Season?

Detroit Pistons' playmaker and former No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham will reportedly undergo season-ending surgery this week to repair a shin stress fracture. 

Cunningham's recovery will likely take at least six months – attributed to the lack of blood flow that helped cause the initial injury – and he should be healed and ready for the 2023-24 season, according to the Pro Basketball Docs. 

The second-year point guard is likely having a rod inserted to repair a tibia fracture that developed over the course of the last year. 

Cunningham averaged 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and six assists – all up from his rookie year – on 41.5% shooting before being sidelined by shin soreness after shooting 1-for-11 on November 9.

The 21-year-old reportedly weighed between surgery and an extended period of rest for several weeks, but the rest wouldn't have sufficiently healed the fracture or ensure that it wouldn't worsen over time. 

Detroit has picked in the top-4 in each of the last two NBA Drafts and have the league's worst record and a path to the best lottery odds at 7-22.