Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham buys stake in Rangers

While everyone in the NBA was debriefing from the trade deadline, one NBA star, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, made headlines with an off-court deal.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Cunningham has purchased a minority stake in the Texas Rangers. A native of Arlington, Texas, Cunningham signed a five-year max rookie extension in 2024 ($269M) and signed a six-year endorsement deal with Nike in November.

Cunningham, 24, is putting together a fantastic season on the court with the Pistons, averaging 25.3 points per game, 9.6 assists and 5.6 rebounds. The Rangers are coming off another down season, going .500 (81-81) and finishing third in the American League West for the second straight season. 

Cade Cunningham is making a smart investment by buying into the Rangers 

Despite back-to-back down seasons, Cunningham is making a smart investment by buying into a team that's two seasons removed from winning the World Series, 4-1, over the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023. The Rangers had the best starting rotation in 2025 (3.41 ERA) and added to it this offseason by trading for Washington Nationals ace MacKenzie Gore. 

The majority owner of the Rangers is Ray C. Davis, who has owned the team since 2010, when the team had its most success, making back-to-back World Series (2010-11) but losing both times. It's not clear how much of a stake Cunningham has bought. 

The Rangers are expected to be better this season, predicted to win 83 games (PECOTA). They will be competing with the reigning American League West champions, the Seattle Mariners, for the division this season, with the Houston Astros nipping at their heels.