Cade Cunningham has undoubtedly elevated his game this season, proving he can lead his team to success. Playing in his fifth NBA season, Cunningham notched his second All-Star selection.
While his performances have shown that he is deserving of other end-of-season accolades, it appears that he may not be eligible to receive them. With that in mind, Cunningham’s agent urged the league to make an exception for his star player.
Why Cade Cunningham Is Likely to Be Snubbed for All-NBA First Team Honors
In the NBA, winning the championship and the MVP are usually the most sought-after awards. But then there are the All-NBA teams, which recognize players for their performance by the end of the season.
Cunningham, who masterfully led his Detroit Pistons to the top of the Eastern Conference this season, has proven to be a deserving member of the All-NBA First Team.
Looking at how the Pistons’ star performed this season, he averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. His efforts have helped Detroit hold the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Cunningham has also been in the MVP conversations all season long, often popping up in the top five of the MVP race. Unfortunately for him, he suffered from an injury on March 17, forcing him to remain on the sidelines.
Cunningham sustained a collapsed left lung. According to several reports, he’s likely to miss the remainder of the regular season but is expected to make his return in time for the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
While his impending return is good news, the league has been buzzing about how he may no longer be eligible for end-of-season awards.
According to the league’s rules, a player must participate in at least 65 games to be eligible for awards like the MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and All-NBA honors.
However, it’s also worth noting that there is an exception for candidates who sustained a season-ending injury. The rules state that injured candidates may be eligible as long as they played 62 games.
Unfortunately for Cunningham, he has met neither of the prerequisites to claim any of the end-of-season awards. The Pistons star fell a bit short, playing in only 61 games.
Cunningham’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, recently voiced his thoughts on the scenario and urged the league to make an exception for his star player.
“Cade has delivered a first-team All-NBA season,” Schwartz said. “If he falls just short of an arbitrary games-played threshold due to legitimate injury, it should not disqualify him from recognition he has clearly earned over the course of the season. The league should be rewarding excellence, not enforcing rigid cutoffs that ignore context. An exception needs to be made.”
Cade Cunningham’s agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, to ESPN: “Cade has delivered a first-team All-NBA season. If he falls just short of an arbitrary games-played threshold due to legitimate injury, it should not disqualify him from recognition he has clearly earned over the…
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 24, 2026
Based on several recent reports, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is also urging the league to change the eligibility rules for end-of-season awards. Cunningham has undoubtedly been a lock for the All-NBA First Team honor all season long. It would be a shame not to award him simply because of a few games he missed due to injury.
