Cade Cunningham is doing whatever it takes to keep the Detroit Pistons' playoff run alive—and that includes suiting up with a flak jacket under his jersey.

The Pistons superstar nearly saw his postseason end early after a scary collapsed lung sidelined him in March. But Cunningham returned just in time for the playoffs, helping Detroit rally past the Orlando Magic in a thrilling seven-game series to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

If you've noticed Cunningham looking a bit bulkier on the court, you're not imagining things. He's been wearing a compression vest—essentially a flak jacket—under his uniform to protect the vulnerable area around his chest. It's a logical precaution for a player who suffered a serious injury and is now back to playing at an elite level.

And the extra gear hasn't slowed him down one bit. In fact, Cunningham's numbers have actually improved since the playoffs began. After shooting 46.1% from the field during the regular season, he's at 46.2% in the postseason. His three-point shooting has jumped even more dramatically, from 34.2% to 39.6% in the playoffs.

The adjustment to playing with the vest might have felt awkward at first, but Cunningham has clearly settled in. For Pistons fans, that's a welcome sight—their franchise player is not only healthy but thriving under the bright lights of the postseason. As Detroit pushes deeper into the playoffs, Cunningham will need to keep carrying the weight of the team on his shoulders, flak jacket and all.