Led by Cade Cunningham, the Detroit Pistons are 13-2 and first in the Eastern Conference standings, just two years after they finished with the worst record in the NBA.
Though he’s been more and more productive in every season of his career, Cunningham has officially stamped himself as an NBA superstar. In light of that elevation, the Pistons’ point guard most recently signed a new, six-year deal with Nike, now lined up to get his own signature shoe.
While Kevin Durant praised Cunningham for his new deal, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas had a different perspective. Speaking on his show, The Arena, the former Washington Wizard said he thinks Nike will help push the All-NBA guard out of Detroit and into a bigger market.
“People are gonna hate that I am going to say it. If you are a Pistons fan, you should be worried,” Arenas prefaced. “Nike has its own agenda. And I am pretty sure Cade staying in Detroit isn’t a part of their agenda.”
After Shams Charania first reported the news of Cunningham’s Nike deal, the star later confirmed the news on Durant’s The Boardroom show. His signature shoe is expected to be released in the second half of the 2026-27 NBA season.
Gilbert Arenas On Cade Cunningham’s Future In Detroit
So far this year, Cunningham is averaging a career-high 27.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 9.9 assists while leading the Pistons on their current 11-0 run, while having the best record in the East. The one-time All-Star has seen steady growth throughout his first five seasons, but after the Pistons at the bottom of the league a few years ago, he’s now led them to their best start since the 2005-06 season.
However, Arenas doesn’t think that’s enough to keep Cunningham in Detroit. Citing his expectations for Nike’s plans with the star, he believes the 2020 first overall pick is headed to a bigger market.
“When they start having down years, they’re going to move that product to a big company because his name, his shoe [will elevate],” Arenas added. “You just got to be wary of it, because of the city he’s in.”
Arenas said that if Detroit becomes successful and potentially wins a championship, he finds it hard to see his point standing. Though he made it clear that if Cunningham isn’t winning, it could become Nike’s prerogative to find a new, bigger market home for the star, all of which were his own claims.
Interestingly enough, just over a week before his latest comments, Arenas said the Pistons have a long, bright future with Cunningham.
“If they keep tweaking the roster for [Cunningham’s] talent, that is the type of team that two years from now, they’re gonna be like ‘Yo, they kinda favorites. They might come out of the East,’” he said previously.
Pistons With The Best Record In The East
Along with becoming only the sixth player in NBA history to sign a deal with Nike for a signature shoe, Cunningham has revived Detroit basketball. Only two seasons ago, they finished with a 14-68 record. Their star was still playing well, but the team looked nothing like the one they have now.
Last year, they made the playoffs and won their first postseason game in 17 years, despite losing the series to the New York Knicks. Now, after losing two of their first four games of the season, Detroit has won 11 in a row and is first in the East.
As mentioned, much of that has to do with Cunningham, as this is the best season of his career so far. But besides the backcourt star, the Pistons are seeing the evolution of one of the league’s best young frontcourt players.
Jalen Duren is averaging 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds (5th) per game on 67.4% (6th) shooting. He put up strong numbers for a big man over the past two seasons, but now, Duren could be on his way to multiple NBA awards. He could make his first All-Star game and All-Defensive team, while also currently battling with Josh Giddey for the highest odds to win the Most Improved Player award.
“Duren, who turns 22 on Tuesday, notched his fifth-straight double-double with a game-high 31 points on 12-of-13 shooting, 15 rebounds and three assists,” Hunter Patterson for The Athletic wrote after a recent win over the Indiana Pacers. “. If he can make his midrange game a mainstay, Duren could join Cunningham as an All-Star.”
Detroit has seen strong performances out of Ausar Thompson, Duncan Robinson, and Tobias Harris, but it’s been the two-man game of Cunningham and Duren that’s led to the improbable record. It’s hard to say anyone expected the Pistons to begin this season this strongly, but they are now making noise in the East.
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