On Jan. 19, the starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game were announced and Detroit Pistons‘ Cade Cunningham was announced as a starter.
This will be his second consecutive appearance as an All-Star and his first time starting in the game. Alongside Cunningham will be Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Tyrese Maxey to round out the East.
The starters from the Western Conference are Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, Shai Gigeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic.
The Pistons will have a player starting in the All-Star Game for the first time since Allen Iverson in 2009. Cunningham has had an impressive season so far and is leading the No. 1 team in the East.
Cade Cunningham Excited to Start in the All-Star Game
After the All-Star starters were announced, the Pistons took on the Boston Celtics and were able to pull out the win in a close battle. Cunningham talked about the great day for him, being named an All-Star star and defeating the Celtics.
“It’s been a good day,” he said. “Obviously a blessing to be named All-Star starter. All glory to God. Super thankful for that and thankful for my team, my coaches, fans, everybody that voted for me. It means a lot and it means a ton to me and my family.”
“And then you know tonight just a battle, a 48 minute battle. Both teams really came with it and to come out with this win was just huge for us.”
After defeating the Celtics, Detroit has won three straight and six of its last seven games. Cunningham finished the game with his 20th double-double of the season (16 points and 14 assists).
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff talked about the respect that Cunningham has throughout the league after he was named a starter for the All-Star Game.
“When you go out in a league that’s this competitive and with guys that are this competitive and they respect your game at that level just talks about exactly what he’s accomplished,” Bickerstaff said. “And the impact he’s had on the game and this team and organization, the impact he’s had on his teammate and coaches, he’s done all those things to deserve it.”
Detroit Pistons’ First All-Star Starter Since 2009
Cunningham ranked first in player votes for the All-Star Game, so it’s no surprise that other players around the league know how talented he is. Through 36 games this season, Cunningham is averaging 25.7 points, 9.8 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. He is currently second in the league in assists per game.
It’s been 18 years since Detroit has had a starter in the All-Star Game. Cunningham will have the opportunity to share the court with some of the best players in the league. In year five, Detroit’s star player has cemented himself as a top player in the league and has proved to be a leader as well.
He’s the face of the franchise and the Pistons will have a bright future with Cunningham as the centerpiece. He signed a five-year contract extension in July of 2024 worth $224 million. When he made the All-Star team last year he earned an additional $45 million, bringing his contract to a total of $269 million. The Pistons have had a complete turnaround over the last few years and have turned into a serious contender and Cunningham has played a significant part in that.