Why Wasn’t Cade Cunningham an All-Star Starter?
The Detroit Pistons have made huge strides since their disastrous 2023-2024 season where they only won 14 games. This season, the Pistons are currently 23-21 which places them sixth in the Eastern Conference above teams like the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, and the Philadelphia 76ers. This team has a big chance of reaching the playoffs, something they haven’t done since 2019. On Thursday night, the NBA announced its all-star starters for the West and Eastern Conference. One surprising fact was not seeing Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham on that list, who’s having his best statistical season to date.
Through 40 games, Cunningham is averaging about 25 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, a steal, and a block on 46 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from three. While Cunningham is almost single-handily turning this Pistons franchise around, he was still out-beat in the all-star starters vote to Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell. Even LaMelo Ball, who won the fan vote and had the most votes amongst guards before the announcement did not make the cut as a starter. Brunson and Mitchell are both the most obvious choices to pick, as the Cleveland Cavaliers are having an incredible season at 36-8 thus far and the New York Knicks could very much be championship contenders this season and their being led by Brunson. Even with the starting spots filled, I would expect that Cunningham will be announced to the all-star reserves team next week.
This Pistons team has won two straight, is 7-3 in their past ten games, and has a better record on the road than at home. They are just a game behind the fifth-seeded Indiana Pacers and three games behind the fourth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. Earlier this month, Cunningham dropped a season-high 40 points in a 119-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Over the past seven games, the 23-year-old has recorded at least 20 points or more. Will Cade be snubbed from the Eastern Conference all-star team or will he make the team as a reserve?
