Why Cade Cunningham’s All-Star starter nod is absolutely historic

Jeremy Beren

•
Why Cade Cunningham’s All-Star starter nod is absolutely historic image

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Cade Cunningham on Monday was named to his second successive NBA All-Star Game, and his first as a starter.

It's a rich reward for Cunningham, who has guided the Detroit Pistons to the top of the Eastern Conference. The 24-year-old leads the 30-10 Pistons in points (25.9) and assists (9.6) entering Monday night's clash with the second-seeded Boston Celtics.

MORE: These were the lineups the last time LeBron James was not named an All-Star starter

Cunningham's All-Star starter nod proves his popularity among NBA fans, and it also ends a lengthy drought among Pistons players.

Cunningham has just become the first Pistons player since 2009 to garner selection to the All-Star Game as a starter. Back then, it was future Hall of Fame guard Allen Iverson who represented the Pistons following his early-season trade from the Denver Nuggets.

Iverson's All-Star nod signaled the end of an era in Detroit. Between 2002 and 2008, the Pistons reached the East finals in six consecutive seasons and won an NBA title. Since the 2009-10 season, the Pistons have enjoyed only two winning seasons, not including the current campaign.

Cunningham meriting selection as an All-Star starter may well herald a new era of contention in Detroit, as midway through the year, the Pistons have the inside track on the #1 seed in the East.

More NBA news:

Contributing Writer