MotorCade arrives: Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham named All-Star starter in USA vs. World game

DETROIT – Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham has officially put the NBA on notice, as he was announced as an All-Star starter to the new format, USA vs. the World basketball game.

Cunningham, a now two-time All-Star, was announced as a starter on Monday (Jan. 19) during the league’s MLK Day quadrupleheader, which featured the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks, the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks, and the No. 1-seed Pistons vs. the No. 2-seed Boston Celtics matchups.

The Pistons host the Celtics at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has unlocked Cunningham’s game as he has taken his game to another level following his first All-Star Game selection during the 2024-2025 season.

With the announcement, Cunningham has become the first Pistons starter since Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame guard Allen Iverson did it during the 2008 season.

Joining Cunningham for the Eastern Conference are Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, forward Jaylen Brown, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Cunningham holds season averages of 25.9 points per game, six rebounds, 9.6 assista and 1.46 steals while shooting 46% from the field and 35.3 minutes per game.

His 9.6 assists per game rank second in the NBA and is the highest average by a Piston since legend Isiah Thomas (10, 1986-87).

MotorCade is one of the just two players this season averaging at least 25 points, nine assists, and six rebounds per game, alongside Nikola Jokic.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, Cunningham ranks second in the NBA this season with a 19 points-assists double-double (Jokić, 22), and his seven 30-point double-doubles rank fourth in the association (Luka Dončić, Antetokounmpo, Jokić).

Cunningham, who is a 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.

MotorCade ranks second in the NBA with six games totaling 15+ points, five+ assists, two+ steals, and two+ 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 points, nine assists, and six rebounds in a season (2024-25), Cunningham became the first player since (Mr. Triple Double) Oscar Robertson in 1962 to accomplish that feat before turning 24 years old.

Catch Cunningham in the All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.