Coty and Tarohn take a look at Pistons candidates for NBA awards this year.
Coty and Tarohn take a look at Pistons candidates for NBA awards this year.
Detroit — Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham teamed up with Impossible Foods at the Detroit Marathon on Sunday. As part of the marathon’s afterparty, Cunningham met with fans and passed out samples of plant-based sliders and nuggets.
Impossible Foods creates plant-based substitutes for animal products such as meat.
Cunningham made his debut at the Detroit Marathon during the event, which highlights how the former No. 1 pick has developed into an All-NBA player. He adopted a plant-based diet going into his senior year at Montverde Academy, after witnessing his brother, Cannen Cunningham, give the lifestyle a try.
“It has always been about finding what is best for my body, and what would make me the best basketball player. Plant-based has always been that for me, and it has been that way for a long time,” Cunningham told The Detroit News. “It has been good to me. I feel good. I’ve played well with it and plan to continue to keep going.”
#Pistons Cade Cunningham teamed up with Impossible Foods at the Detroit Marathon today.
As part of the afterparty, Cunningham took part in a meet-and-greet event, where he socialized with fans and passed out food samples. pic.twitter.com/iiqnmF8goT
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) October 19, 2025
Cunningham has built a successful career following a plant-based diet, which he describes as eating for “fuel and not for taste.” He has managed to obtain all the necessary carbohydrates for energy, protein and muscle building at a professional level through his work alongside the Pistons’ nutrition team.
To maintain the nourishment needed to sustain his All-Star-caliber play, Cunningham revealed that he undergoes several blood tests with the Pistons; anything missing from a nutritional standpoint is substituted.
“You have to try to eat right anyway. You can be on a plant-based diet, but if you’re eating chips all day, you will not be getting the nutrition that you need,” Cunningham said.
While Cunningham passed out samples, fans stood in the nippy, rainy weather to make sure they showed their love and admiration. As soon as Cunningham walked into Impossible Foods’ tent, MVP chants started to erupt.
“To see so many people showing me love is crazy. It means a lot,” Cunningham said. “The whole team has felt the (love and excitement) since last year. The whole city has been excited, and they (the fans) have shown us that. Everyone is ready to get the season going.
Cunningham continued, “They know the season starts Wednesday. They know it’s against Chicago (Bulls), it feels like everyone is getting ready for war, and that is one of the things I always loved about playing for Detroit.”
Coty.Davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24