DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons capped a historic regular season with a 60-22 record and the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but the milestone comes with a costly caveat for All-Star guard Cade Cunningham.
Detroit secured its first Central Division title in 18 years with a season-ending win over the Indiana Pacers, reaching the 60-win mark for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
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Despite the success, Cunningham will be ineligible for major NBA honors after appearing in 64 games this season, one shy of the league’s 65-game minimum for awards eligibility.
The two-time All-Star missed time this season due to multiple injuries, including a wrist issue and a collapsed lung suffered March 17 during a road game against the Washington Wizards.
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The injury sidelined him for 11 games before he returned on April 8 to help the team take a 137-111 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 13 points, dropping 10 assists, and notching five rebounds in the victory.
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Under league rules, players must appear in at least 65 games to qualify for awards such as All-NBA.
An exception exists for players who have appeared in at least 62 games and suffer a season-ending injury, though it remains unclear whether Cunningham will qualify after falling short by one game due to a serious injury.
“I feel a lot of ways about it,” said Cunningham. “I think what they are trying to do is have superstars play and not sit out just to rest because fans pay a lot of money to watch us play games, so I have a lot of respect for that. The fans come to watch me play, and I want to make sure that I’m available and I give them a show whenever they come out.
Cunningham continued:
“So in that way, I respect the rule. I think that it is a good rule in that way. It’s tough for me right now this year because I think I’ve done a lot of work to be in consideration for awards and All-NBA and all of that stuff. So, I’m in a tough spot, but it will all play out how it is supposed to play out, and I’m just trying to do my best, just trying to help my team win. I’m hearing all of this stuff about exceptions and all of this other stuff. I don’t know how all of that stuff works. I just keep doing my job day by day, and whatever comes will come, and what’s meant to be will be.”
Cunningham has been a central figure in Detroit’s turnaround, alongside fellow All-Star Jalen Duren and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
The Pistons finished with their best record in two decades, echoing the franchise’s past success.
Detroit’s 60-win season marks its strongest showing since the “Goin’ to Work” era team that reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2006.
It also joins the franchise’s elite seasons, including the 1988-89 “Bad Boys” team that went on to win an NBA title.
The Pistons will open the playoffs Sunday and will learn their first-round opponent Friday night, when the final Eastern Conference play-in spot is decided between the Charlotte Hornets and the Orlando Magic.
Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. EDT, but before the playoff tip-off, should Cunningham get an exception?