Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham Says He'll Pay Isaiah Stewart’s Fine At All-Star Weekend

With the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend fully underway, Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham is both prepared and excited to be a starter for tomorrow night’s game, and he’ll be paired with Jalen Duren to help make the occasion even more memorable.

But before Cunningham and Duren take the floor tomorrow night, the Pistons’ floor general met with the media on Saturday afternoon to touch base ahead of what will surely be an electric event. 

During the presser, Cunningham was asked about whether he would pay Detroit big man Isaiah Stewart’s fine after the enforcer engaged in a bout of fisticuffs with Hornets forward Miles Bridges last Monday. In the altercation, Stewart left the bench to deliver a few punches to Bridges, and he was promptly hit with a seven-game suspension by the NBA. 

Stewart’s extended absence is going to cost the Washington product a good chunk of money, but he might have a little help in paying off that fine after former NBA star and current analyst DeMarcus Cousins asked Cunningham if he’d lessen Beef Stew’s financial burden as a delayed thank you. 

Cade, ever the showman, paused for a brief moment before smiling and looking around the room, clearly making light of the tough situation that he was placed in. Obviously, Cunningham did not force Stewart to jump off the bench in defense against Charlotte, but the All-Star starter had some generous words to say about his teammate before confirming that he would talk to Beef Stew about helping with his fine.

“I would, though. I would,” Cunningham said. “That’s my brother, man. He’s, like you said, he’s just the ultimate competitor. He’s somebody that’s going to have your back like nobody else. It’s costly. It’s costly, but he’s the man. I wouldn’t trade him for the world. He’s the best teammate you can ask for, so yeah, I’ll help him out a little bit. It’s not even helping him out because he has the money for it, but it’s just paying for that love and that loyalty that he brings everyday. So, I feel that. I’m going to holler at him about that.” 

Simultaneously, Cunningham was able to convey several different messages at once. First, Cousins certainly put Cade in a predicament by asking how he’d spend his money. But like the pro that he is, Cunningham turned the situation into a humorous moment before admitting that he would like to talk with Beef Stewart about helping out with the big man’s equally large financial penalty for his role in the Hornets brawl. 

It's worth noting that Stewart was fined $724,000 as a result of his actions against Charlotte, so the numbers that the Boogie Cousins asked Cunningham about was no paltry sum. Out of the four players suspended for the fight, Stewart's penalty was the most severe. 

Frankly, Cunningham’s message and support for his teammate should not come as a surprise because he’s proven to be a magnanimous member of the Pistons’ squad with a long history of giving back to the greater Detroit community. This time, Cade’s good deed may come from within the Pistons’ locker room, but it’s a trade-off that Cunningham confirmed would be worth it. 

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