There’s no denying that Cade Cunningham has evolved into one of the NBA’s brightest stars today. Last season, Cunningham notched his first All-Star nod and led the Detroit Pistons to their first playoff appearance since 2019.
This season, Cunningham has proven to be among the best Eastern Conference players as he leads the Pistons to first place in the standings. Detroit currently has a 13-2 record and is three games ahead of the second-placed Toronto Raptors (10-5). Despite all the success, a former NBA star believes that Cunningham is bound to leave Detroit.
Cade Cunningham’s Nike Deal Could Interfere With His Status in Detroit
Cunningham recently re-signed with Nike. Both parties agreed to a six-year contract extension, which includes a signature shoe that’s set to launch in the second half of the 2026-27 season.
This is a huge leap in Cunningham’s career. He now joins several NBA legends, such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant, who are still actively playing while having their own signature shoes with Nike.
However, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas believes that Cunningham’s newfound stardom with Nike could be the cause of his sudden departure from Detroit.
“If you are a Pistons fan, you should be worried,” Arenas said on his podcast. “Nike has its own agenda. And I am pretty sure Cade staying in Detroit isn’t a part of their agenda.”
Gilbert Arenas on Cade Cunningham getting a Nike signature shoe
“People are gonna hate that I am going to say it. If you are a Pistons fan you should be worried. Nike has it’s own agenda. And I am pretty sure Cade staying in Detroit isn’t apart of their agenda.”
Via… pic.twitter.com/zD1Z5PKgW8
— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) November 19, 2025
While most players have a say in where they want to play throughout their career, Arenas does make a good point regarding Nike possibly interfering with Cunningham’s path.
According to sports journalist Alex Kennedy, companies like Nike incentivise their players for playing in large markets. Vice versa, playing in a smaller market will result in a reduction of pay.
“Interestingly, some companies include a small-market reduction as well,” Kennedy reported in 2020. “Just as brands give players a bonus for being in a large market (such as Los Angeles or New York), they’ll significantly dock their pay if they land in certain small markets. Players are essentially being fined for ending up in a small-market city, even if it’s not the player’s choice.”
Even ESPN’s Nick DePaula has witnessed this unfortunate instance occur among players who have shoe deals with companies like Nike.
“I’ve seen some brands include a 20-percent reduction for landing in certain small markets,” Nick DePaula said. “I know for a fact that one brand had Sacramento and Orlando among others on that list of markets.”
Having all that in mind, there’s a possibility that Cunningham will be forced to search for another team to play for in the coming seasons.
