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Cade Cunningham has established himself as one of many NBA’s premier younger stars. Now, he’s been rewarded with a brand new extension with Nike—and extra.
Cunningham is about to re-sign with Nike on a six-year deal, his representatives at Excel Sports activities Administration instructed ESPN. Included within the deal would be the launch of his personal signature shoe, anticipated to debut in 2026-2027.
With that, he’ll be a part of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker, and Ja Morant because the sixth energetic participant to safe a signature shoe with Nike. Different stars resembling LaMelo Ball, Jayson Tatum, Luka Dončić, and Anthony Edwards are only a small pattern of stars who’ve earned their very own signature shoe.
Whereas Nike stays the preferred amongst NBA and WNBA athletes, NBA gamers have additionally signed offers with Jordan, Puma, Below Armour, New Steadiness, ANTA, Li-Ning, Peak, and Converse. Stephen Curry is the newest to half methods with Below Armour and is at the moment a sneaker free agent.
Cunningham beforehand signed a cope with Nike earlier than he was drafted No.1 general by the Detroit Pistons in 2021. The Oklahoma standout initially signed a multi-year shoe and attire deal in a partnership with the model. In early 2025, the Texas native unveiled his signature brand, which steadily seems on worn Nike GT Reduce 3s.
EXCLUSIVE: Cade Cunningham is subsequent up for his personal Nike sneaker—at the moment in early construct and deliberate for Spring 2027. pic.twitter.com/7OWz27Gmyt
— Boardroom (@boardroom) November 17, 2025
Cunningham Talks Signature Shoe in Boardroom Unique with Kevin Durant
Monday morning, Cunningham confirmed the information in an unique Boardroom Cowl Story interview with Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant. Certainly, the information traces again to a dialog between the 2 NBA stars over the summer time. Having signed an unique cope with Nike in 2009, Durant has launched 18 signature footwear with Nike.
He calls the method “enjoyable” and encourages Cunningham to take an energetic position within the design course of. As his profession has developed, KD appreciates your complete course of of getting a shoe, from the bottom as much as promoting.
“We was simply speaking in regards to the Nike sport and what it means, and like how vital that’s to us,” mentioned Durant in a Boardroom unique. “So that you can get your personal shoe, so that you can have a legacy, are you aware how large that’s, bruh? A signature athlete at Nike? I’m glad for you, brother.”
Within the interview, Cunningham said the information hadn’t totally sunk in but.
“I haven’t actually like grasped it but, what I’m saying? I don’t received no phrases about it, bro…it’s loopy, it’s a dream come true.”
Rising Stardom within the NBA
At simply 24 years outdated, Cunningham is without doubt one of the fastest-rising stars within the NBA. Now in his fifth 12 months with the Pistons, the guard is coming off a profession 12 months during which he earned first-time All-Star and All-NBA Third Workforce honors. The NBA’s help chief behind Nikola Jokić, he’s placing up a career-best 27.5 factors, 5.4 rebounds, and 9.9 assists. In 11 video games, he’s almost averaging a double-double nightly.
Identified for his scoring potential and noteworthy playmaking potential, maybe his biggest profession accomplishment has been on the helm of the Pistons’ transformation. A franchise as soon as outlined by three championships had dwindled into the shadows for years.
Participant of the Week Cade Cunningham ATTEMPTED 45 SHOTS within the win tonight!
46 Points14/45 Shooting16/18 Free Throws2/11 Threes12 Rebounds11 Assists5 Steals2 BlocksW pic.twitter.com/rzZ7OGe2zu
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 11, 2025
Previous to drafting Cunningham, the Pistons had been contemporary off a 20-win season. Cunningham was, in truth, part of the 2023-2024 group that discovered themselves on the improper facet of historical past. Ending with a franchise-worst 14-68 file, the Pistons set an NBA single-season file after dropping 28 consecutive video games. It was that unhealthy—sportsbooks had been even providing bettors group props that included odds on Detroit’s subsequent win.
From Early Struggles to Title Contenders
Incomes simply 54 wins with the franchise in his first three seasons, Cunningham led the Pistons to a 44-38 file final 12 months, which was ample for fifth within the Jap Convention. Main the group to its first playoff look because the 2018-2019 season, the Pistons had been finally knocked out by Jap Convention rival New York Knicks within the first spherical, 4-2.
Whereas they did not advance past the primary spherical, 5 of the matchups towards New York had been determined by six factors or much less.
Constructing on that momentum, Cunningham and the Pistons are at the moment the No.1 ranked group within the Jap Convention with an 11-2 file. Driving a nine-game win streak, the tides have turned for Detroit. Trailing solely the defending champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder for the NBA’s finest file, the Pistons boast probably the greatest defensive rosters within the league.
Named Naismith Excessive Faculty Participant of the 12 months in 2020, he led Montverde Academy to an ideal 25-0 file his senior 12 months. A five-star recruit out of Arlington, Texas, dropping wasn’t in his DNA—till he entered the professionals. Not solely does a signature shoe cement his legacy, nevertheless it additionally reveals that endurance is a advantage.
“During the last two 12 months’s of his highschool profession, Cade misplaced a complete of three video games and his senior 12 months the group went 25-0 and gained every sport by a mean of 38 factors,” mentioned Ballislife’s Ronnie Flores, who lined Cade extensively in highschool. “Even in his lone season at Oklahoma St., the group was aggressive and completed No. 11 within the last AP ballot at 21-9. Within the execs, Cade misplaced 192 video games in his first three seasons, together with a 28-game dropping streak in the course of the 2023-24 season. That needs to be powerful mentally while you come from a state of affairs the place you’re used to successful. I think about it’s the identical adjustment Cooper Flagg goes by at the moment with the Dallas Mavericks.
“Cade all the time had the expertise and Nike clearly believed in him by the powerful instances in Detroit. To see the turnaround, it needs to be fairly satisfying for him personally and for Pistons followers. He’s a distinction maker as he confirmed again then. No one needs to get used to dropping, however you must have the fortitude to push by and keep centered and never each younger proficient participant does. Cade clearly has that potential.”
The Pistons subsequent host the Indiana Pacers on Monday night time, with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. EST.
Comply with Sara Jane Gamelli on X: @SaraJGamelli.
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