Detroit Pistons Make All-Star History With Duren, Cunningham, and Bickerstaff Headed to L.A.
For the first time in two decades, the Detroit Pistons are sending not one, but two players - along with their head coach - to the NBA All-Star Game. And if you’ve been watching this team closely, it’s not hard to see why.
Jalen Duren has officially been named an Eastern Conference reserve, marking the first All-Star selection of his young career. He joins Cade Cunningham, who was voted in as a starter, and head coach J.B.
Bickerstaff, who earned the coaching nod for the East squad. That trio will represent a Pistons organization that’s gone from rebuilding to reloading - and now, contending.
Duren’s selection is more than just a personal milestone - it’s a reflection of the leap both he and the Pistons have made this season. Through 40 games, the 20-year-old big man is averaging career highs across the board: 18.0 points per game, 10.7 rebounds, and a scorching 63.4% shooting from the field. He’s racked up 22 double-doubles, anchoring Detroit’s interior on both ends of the floor and bringing a physical presence that’s been impossible to ignore.
His signature moment? A dominant performance in Mexico City back on November 1, when he dropped a career-high 33 points against the Dallas Mavericks. That night, he also added 10 blocks and a pair of assists, powering the Pistons to a 122-110 win and showing the international crowd exactly what he’s capable of.
Duren’s rise mirrors Detroit’s broader resurgence. After years of being overlooked, this team has forced its way back into the national conversation - and now, into All-Star weekend in a big way.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who’s helped guide this turnaround, spoke on what the recognition means for the team’s growth and how it’s resonated around the league.
“Our league does a great job of showing one another respect,” Bickerstaff said. “People understand how hard it is - whether you’re a coach or a player - to be good in this league.
There’s no guarantee last year’s success carries over. You’ve got to keep putting in the work.”
And the Pistons have done just that. They’re no longer the team opponents circle as an easy win. They’re playing with purpose, with grit, and with a confidence that’s earned them respect across the NBA.
That respect will be on full display at the 2026 All-Star Game, set to take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. This year’s event brings a brand-new format: three teams - two U.S.-based squads and one international team - competing in a tournament-style showcase. Each team will play four 12-minute games, with the top two advancing to a championship finale.
It’s a fresh twist on All-Star weekend, and Detroit will be right in the thick of it.
The last time the Pistons had multiple players and their head coach at the All-Star Game? You’d have to rewind all the way to 2006.
That year, the late Flip Saunders led the East to a 122-120 win in Houston with a Pistons-heavy roster featuring Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace, and Rasheed Wallace. That group was the heart of a championship-caliber team - and now, two decades later, Detroit is starting to build something that feels just as special.
The message is clear: the Pistons are back on the map, and they’re not just showing up - they’re showing out.