By Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News
DETROIT — For the first time in 20 years, the Detroit Pistons will have two players representing them at the All-Star game.
The NBA announced on Sunday that Jalen Duren had been selected as an Eastern Conference reserve. Duren’s All-Star selection is the first of his career. He will be joining Cade Cunningham and coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who were voted as starters and coach, respectively.
Duren’s breakout season has coincided with the Pistons’ rise to championship contention. With 22 double-doubles, Duren has averaged career highs of 18.0 points on 63.4% shooting from the field and 10.7 rebounds through 40 games.
His best performance came during the Pistons’ 122-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 1. He led the Pistons to a victory in Mexico City with a career-high 33 points, to go with 10 blocks and two assists.
Duren’s All-Star selection is another testament to the respect the Pistons have gained since their resurgence began last season.
“Our league does a great job of showing one another respect and has appreciated what people have done because they know it’s not easy, from a coaching standpoint or a player’s standpoint,” Bickerstaff said. “To be good in this league is not easy. Everybody assumed that what you did last year would automatically carry over to this year, but we know that is not true if the work does not continue.
Bickerstaff continued, “That is what you have seen around the league. People have respected the work our guys have put in. We are no longer the team people sneak up on. People are aware of what our guys are doing.”
The 2026 All-Star Game will take place at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and feature a new format — two U.S. teams and one international team. Each team will compete in a tournament-style contest featuring four 12-minute games. The top two teams will face off in the championship game.
The last time the Pistons had multiple players and their coach at the All-Star game was in 2006. The late Flip Saunders coached the Eastern Conference All-Stars to a 122-120 victory over the Western Conference in Houston. He did so alongside Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace.
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