Ex-All-Star cautions Cade Cunningham regarding his future with The Pistons.

Jeremy Beren

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Former All-Star warns Cade Cunningham about his Pistons future image

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

TL;DR

  • Detroit Pistons lead Eastern Conference at 13-2 with 11-game win streak.
  • Cade Cunningham is second in assists and averaging career-high points.
  • Cunningham signed with Nike, solidifying his status as a Pistons icon.
  • Gilbert Arenas suggests Nike wants Cunningham in a larger market, not Detroit.

The Detroit Pistons have emerged as the unexpected standout team in the NBA during the initial phase of the 2025/26 season. With All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham at the helm, the Pistons have surged to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, fueled by an impressive 11-game winning streak.

With a 13-2 record, the Pistons now hold a three-game advantage over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cunningham's ongoing development has been vital to their impressive beginning. Despite sitting out three contests due to a hip issue, the former #1 selection is second in the league for assists per game at 9.9 and is averaging a career-high 27.3 points per contest.

Cunningham's rise to superstardom has resulted in a signature shoe agreement with Nike, a fact he disclosed this week on Boardroom alongside Kevin Durant. This places Cunningham one of only six active players with a similar deal, widely believed to solidify the 24-year-old's status as a Pistons basketball icon.

Gilbert Arenas suggests Cunningham might depart from The Pistons

However, former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas sees trouble ahead for Cunningham in Detroit.

During his Gil's Arena podcast, Arenas questioned Nike's commitment to keeping Cunningham with Detroit, suggesting the sportswear behemoth's true aim is for Cunningham to join a larger market.

"If you're a Detroit Pistons fan, you should be worried a little bit," Arenas said. "Nike has its own agenda, and I'm pretty sure Cade staying in Detroit ain't part of their agenda. If they sense that 'this is our guard,' you want Cade to win championships."

In July of last year, Cunningham finalized a five-year deal worth $224 million with The Pistons, which included neither team nor player options. Consequently, Cunningham is committed to Detroit through 2030, a period during which the Pistons might very well be contending for a championship, as signs suggest their competitive window is already emerging. The atmosphere surrounding the Pistons and their local star point guard is increasingly positive.

Additionally, Nike's other prominent athletes, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker, and Ja Morant, do not compete in major NBA cities. They've stayed with their initial franchises—the Milwaukee Bucks, the Phoenix Suns, and the Memphis Grizzlies, in that order—despite ongoing trade speculation concerning Antetokounmpo and Morant in recent times.

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Editorial Team