when will cade cunningham be back

Cade Cunningham is expected to miss an extended period , and the latest reporting says he’ll be re-evaluated in about 2 weeks after being diagnosed with a collapsed left lung. There is no exact return date yet , but the most optimistic current outlook is a playoff return if recovery goes smoothly.

Quick scoop

• He initially left the game with what was thought to be back spasms, then a back contusion, before tests showed a collapsed lung.

• As of March 19, 2026, reporting said there was no firm timeline.

• Some coverage suggests a 3-to-4 week recovery window is possible in comparable cases, but that is still speculative.

What that means

For now, the safest answer is: not soon, but possibly by the playoffs. The injury sounds serious enough that Detroit is preparing for him to miss multiple games, and the team will likely update his status after the re- evaluation window.

Context

Cunningham has been playing at an MVP-level pace this season, averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds before the injury.