Cade Cunningham has nearly completed the best campaign in his career, but an excessive rule could be the reason why this elite season doesn’t get rewarded, and it is all because of injuries. Cunningham is only 4 games short of being eligible for postseason awards, but with a collapsed lung, it’s pushing it awfully close.
This isn’t just Cade Cunningham suffering from this rule; NBA stars and veterans alike have sparked a league-wide debate about it: fairness vs. availability. As the outrage grows louder, it raises a crucial question: Does the current rule truly reflect on-court excellence, especially in seasons like Cunningham’s?
Why Cade Cunningham DESERVES All-NBA
Cade Cunningham has electric in his 2025-26 season, scoring at an elite level with 24.5 Points, while still dishing out an unreal 9.9 Assists, 2nd in the NBA. Cunningham also contributes 5.6 Rebounds and 1.5 Steals, rounding out one of the most balanced stat lines in the NBA.
Cade truly has excelled as the Pistons leader, having a PER (Player Efficiency Rating: A Player’s Per-Minute Statistical Production) of 22, which is up there with the league’s best. Cunningham’s Box Plus Minus sits around +6.5, while his Win Shares hover around 7.8, proving his value to the Pistons franchise.
As the primary engine, Cunningham has turned the Pistons from a losing franchise to one of the league’s best. A few years ago, the Pistons put up one of the worst seasons in NBA history, having a final record of 14-68, while also losing the most games in a row with 28. Now, Detroit ranks #1 in the Eastern Conference, boasting an impressive 52-19 record, their 1st 50 win season since 2008.
On paper, Cade Cunningham has led a franchise from its lowest possible point into quite literally the top, but even if Cunningham has been elite, the 65-game rule could cost him not just a good season but millions of dollars as well.
Why the 65-Game Rule Could Cost Him
The 65-game rule was implemented a few years ago to tackle load management and to force players to stop resting and missing games, but it has backfired ever since. With the league’s biggest stars all publicly stating they don’t like the rule, it is hard not to change it at this point.
With Cade Cunningham having only played 61 games, he will likely be ineligible, although there are limited exceptions at 62+ games. Cade suffered an injury against the Wizards and had to leave the game; it turned out to be a collapsed lung. Rushing back Cade now would be considered dangerous, and Cunningham’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, is pushing for a 1 time exception.
Although Cade is a lock for the All-NBA 1st team, I previously said he would win the MVP, but I am now retracting that statement. Cade’s 3 Pointer has never truly been on target; it’s improving, but even this season, it is weak, shooting 35% from downtown. 1 other major concern with Cade is his high turnover number, but that is very common with high usage, pass 1st Point Guards.
Now we are back exactly where we started: Should awards reward just the best players, or the ones who consistently show up? Cade Cunningham has undoubtedly had a superstar leap this season, and even if he misses All-NBA, there is no denying that he is going to be part of the NBA’s future, but the Playoffs will decide if this year goes into the record books, or is forgotten forever.
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