For the first time in seven years, the Pistons have drafted and developed an All-Star. Cade Cunningham was announced Thursday night as an Eastern Conference reserve, as selected by NBA head coaches.
His own head coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, said this about Cunningham at his introductory press conference last summer: "I don’t think there’s a lot that he can’t do on the basketball floor. Our focus is making him one of the best two-way players in this league."
"And having conversations with him, he’s hungry," Bickerstaff said. "He has a fire. He’s a competitor. He wants to be a part of taking the Pistons to the next level."
Together, they're getting it done. Amid a breakout season, Cunningham has lifted the Pistons into the playoff picture in the East. He's averaging 25.0 points and 9.3 assists per game, the latter third in the NBA and the most by a Piston since Isiah Thomas in 1986-87.
Cunningham also ranks third in the NBA with seven triple-doubles, trailing only LeBron James and Nikola Jokic. In fact, he and Jokic -- the three-time MVP -- are the only players this season averaging at least 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
Cunningham, the former No. 1 pick, is the Pistons' first All-Star since Blake Griffin in 2019 and their first homegrown All-Star since Andre Drummond in 2018. While those players were on the backside of their primes, the 23-year-old Cunningham is just getting started.
This year's All-Star Game -- which features a new tournament-style format, with players divided into four teams -- will be held Sunday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m at the Chase Center, home of the Warriors.
The Pistons, 23-24, still have eight games between now and then, starting with a season-high six-game homestand that kicks off Friday night against the Mavericks.