The Tonight Show hosted Cade Cunningham for its special Detroit edition over the weekend

Later tonight, Detroit Pistons star point guard Cade Cunningham will make his network television debut when The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon airs on NBC at 11:35 pm EST. 

Now, this episode of The Tonight Show is not an average, run-of-the-mill piece of programming. In fact, Ford Motor Company has partnered with The Tonight Show for the special Motown-focused episode, which was shot and recorded last night at the Detroit Opera House. 

As such, several Detroit superstars helped stack Fallon’s guest lineup for the show’s brief time in the Motor City. Representing the Detroit Pistons, Cunningham graced the Tonight Show desk for a segment with Fallon, and Detroit Lions hometown hero Aidan Hutchinson also rounded out the sporting contingent of young stars from the hardworking Midwest city.

As usual, Hutchinson sure knows when to seize the moment. On Sunday, the Detroit Lions pulled off a big victory over the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, and Hutchinson wasted little time in showing up to The Tonight Show with a game ball to deliver to Fallon. While Fallon did not play a role in the Lions’ win earlier in the day, the gesture shows that Hutchinson and his teammates are invested in the full-scale culture change occurring within the Lions organization. Hutchinson made an appearance to connect with the local fans once again, and his pervasive, positive energy spread just a little bit further after Sunday night’s taping. 

From a broader perspective of celebrity, famed actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key, who was born in Southfield and grew up in the Detroit area, was also a guest on The Tonight Show. Key is a noted ardent supporter of Detroit’s sports teams, so Fallon and company made a logical decision to include the witty showman on the lineup.

From a musical standpoint, the show selected Common to provide some tunes for the live crowd, and the Chicago native paid homage to legendary Detroit rapper and highly influential producer J Dilla, whose name still strikes a chord in Midwestern hip hop and R&B circles to this day. To help strengthen the Detroit connection, Common has been fond of the Motor City after recording his fourth studio album in Detroit between 1999 and 2000. 

The Detroit-based episode will first air tonight on NBC, but it will be available for streaming one day later on Peacock to boot. This episode marks the show’s first time filming in Detroit, and it’s slated to be a star-filled episode. 

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As for Cunningham, the Pistons star point guard will take the court soon for his fifth NBA season. The Detroit Pistons will start the pre-season on Monday, Oct. 6 against the Memphis Grizzlies. The regular season, however, will begin for Cunningham and his teammates on Wednesday, Oct. 22 against the Chicago Bulls. 

For more information on the latest Detroit Pistons team or player news, follow @EricJRutter on X for continued basketball coverage.