CADE CUNNINGHAM NAMED EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR STARTER
The NBA has announced that Pistons guard Cade Cunningham was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game set to be played on Feb. 15 in Los Angeles. This marks Cunningham’s second NBA All-Star selection and first as a starter.
Cunningham (6-6, 243) holds season averages of 25.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 9.6 assists and 1.46 steals while shooting 46% from the field in 35.3 minutes per game. His 9.6 assists per game ranks second in the NBA and is the highest average by a Piston since Isiah Thomas (10.0, 1986-87). Cunningham is currently one of just two players this season averaging at least 25.0 PTS, 9.0 AST and 6.0 REB per game, alongside Nikola Jokić.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Cunningham ranks second in the NBA this season with 19 point-assist double-doubles (Jokić, 22) and his seven 30-point double-doubles rank fourth in the association (Dončić, Antetokounmpo, Jokić). The two-way guard currently ranks fifth in the NBA in defended field goal percentage (.426) among players who have defended at least 475 field goals this season.
The NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Month in November, Cunningham currently ranks fourth among qualified NBA scorers averaging 7.9 points per game in the fourth quarter and is tied-for-fourth in the NBA among guards in points in the paint (11.4). Cunningham also ranks second with 101 points and is shooting 49% from the field in ‘clutch time’ this season. He ranks second in the NBA with six games totaling 15+ points, 5+ assists, 2+ steals and 2+ blocks.
The Arlington, Texas, native ranks second in franchise history (min. 100 games) averaging 22.6 career points per game, third with 7.7 assists per game and second with 14 triple-doubles. In addition to being the only player in Pistons history to average at least 26.0 points, 9.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds in a season (2024-25), Cunningham became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1962 to accomplish that feat before turning 24 years old.
Cunningham is the first Detroit Pistons player to be named an Eastern Conference starter in the All-Star game since Allen Iverson in 2009.
Five players from each conference were voted on by fans, players and media as starters in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. The NBA’s head coaches will vote on the 14 reserves for the 75th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The new All-Star format will feature two United States teams and one international team comprised of eight players each. The three-game mini-tournament will air at 5 p.m. ET on NBC.