Detroit Pistons Cade Cunningham Suffered Left Lung Collapse

A very scary situation this week. Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham suffered a left lung pneumothorax, more commonly known as a lung collapse. In much discomfort Cade exited the first quarter against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, March 17, after a collision with rookie wing Tre Johnson. And by the second quarter it was confirmed that he would not return to the game. Nonetheless, after examination his condition was considered mild.

According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, Cunningham did not fly back with the team as a safety precaution. The air pressure on a plane would not be kind to a malfunctioning lung. Katz reports,

“The team’s most trusted local doctors have yet to check him out, though they knew enough not to put him on the team plane — not with a collapsed lung, which would respond poorly to drastic changes in air pressure. So not long before tipoff in D.C., Cunningham entered a car, ready for the eight-hour drive back to Detroit, uncertain of both his and the Pistons’ immediate futures.”

So far, there is not a definitive return date yet for Cunningham. However, the Pistons have decided that they will re-evaluate their star player in two weeks. At that point in time, likely they will monitor him for signs of breathlessness and that his lung heals fully.

Therefore, for about two weeks Detroit will have to carry on without Cunningham’s dynamic play. The Pistons entered Thursday at 49-19, first in the Eastern Conference with 14 games remaining. And they have remained in first. Winning another two games since then against the Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors, bringing their record to 51-19. So then, it looks like his team is indeed holding down the fort until his eventual return just fine.

Furthermore, Cunningham has played 61 games and has 60 games of end-of-season award eligibility – shy of the 65-game threshold. If he returns in two weeks, he’d have five regular season games remaining on the schedule. A player must appear in 65 games to qualify for major postseason awards such as the Kia MVP and the All-NBA teams.

Detroit Pistons Cade Cunningham Suffered Left Lung Collapse

Up until this particular health issue, Cade was enjoying a very great season. Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists for the Detroit Pistons, stellar numbers for a club that is on pace for its best season in nearly two decades. Additionally, there are only eight players in NBA history that have finished a season averaging that many points and assists. Plus, Cunningham would be the first to do so in a Detroit uniform.

But for now we must wait. Regarding a lung collapse, Harvard Health mentions, “A collapsed lung occurs when air escapes from the lungs or leaks through the chest wall and enters the space between the two membranes (pleural cavity). As air builds up, it causes the nearby lung to collapse. A collapsed lung may be caused by an injury to the lungs or chest wall, such as a blunt fall or car accident. Once the cause of a collapsed lung is treated, it usually will return to normal within 48 to 72 hours. Recovering from a collapsed lung may take up to several weeks.”

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