Cade Cunningham is not having an easy preseason. The number 1 in the 2021 draft suffered a sprained ankle at the beginning of training camp, an ailment that was classified by Dwane Casey as mild, but which for now has not allowed him to return to training with his teammates at the Pistons.
His coach, Casey, said on October 1 that there was a small swelling in the rookie’s joint that was in no way worrisome, which made him think that the Oklahoma State project would be ready to play the first preseason game against San Antonio October 6. It does not seem that it will be like that.
After several days without training, Casey has returned to attend the media to emphasize that today there is no set date for Cunningham to return to exercise with his teammates. The injury may be a bit more serious than initially thought, but they may just as well have chosen the cautious route.
The Michigan organization’s plan with Cunningham is long-term. Even if the rookie was looking forward to returning to training and being in the best possible shape for his NBA debut, preventing a minor problem from turning into something bigger rules in these cases. In any case, there are two weeks left (October 20) for Detroit to start the 2021-22 season against the Chicago Bulls. It is likely that that day we can see the number 1 of the last draft on the floor.
(Photograph by Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
