NBA fans didn’t hold back after news broke that Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham landed a fresh six-year endorsement deal with Nike — one that includes his first-ever signature shoe, set for release in the 2026–27 season. The agreement, reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, immediately sparked a debate about whether he’s earned that tier of recognition already.
Cunningham has been the face of Detroit since arriving as the No. 1 pick in 2021, and while his talent has never really been questioned, the reaction from NBA fans showed that not everyone believes he’s reached that upper shelf of star power. The comments rolled in quickly.
One fan said, “Cade got a sneaker before Brunson? Lol Nike.”
Another wrote, “Cade is very good but didn’t know he reached superstar level yet.”
A third argued, “Cade locking in a Nike signature while the Pistons sit at 11–2 is crazy—Detroit didn’t just rebuild, they arrived.”
What adds fuel to the conversation is how much Cunningham has been doing to justify the spotlight. Detroit’s 12–2 start has turned heads across the league, and his production has been at the center of it. Through 11 games, he’s putting up 27.5 points, 5.4 boards, and 9.9 assists per night — easily the best stretch of his career and one of the biggest reasons the Pistons look like a different team this season.
“Mf got the Israeli 1s”: NBA fans clown Cade Cunningham’s logo
The signature shoe chatter also brought back the jokes about Cunningham’s personal logo, which Nike unveiled earlier this year. It’s already appeared on gear and warmups, but now that a full signature line is on the way, NBA fans resurrected their takes.
One fan wrote, “mf got the israeli 1s.”
Another said, “I like that logo a lot but it kinda looks like it’s for Caruso.”
A third added, “Terrible , this makes Curry’s logo look clean lmao.”
Whether the noise fades or not, Cunningham’s deal puts him in rare company. A signature shoe is one of the strongest signals a brand can send about who they’re betting on long-term — and right now, Detroit’s rise has only made that move louder.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
