As basketball royalty descended upon Los Angeles for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, the entire weekend had a certain Motown flavor injected into the festivities. 

From a personnel standpoint, Cade Cunningham started the game alongside Jalen Duren for Team Stars, and the duo were the first two players announced during pre-game. Joining the dynamic duo was J.B. Bickerstaff and the rest of the Detroit Pistons coaching staff, and the cohesive unit kept their winning ways alive with a dominant 47-21 dispatching of Team Stripes in the Championship Game. 

“It was awesome to be together," Bickerstaff said after the game. "You know, to be with guys you spend so much time with, but to watch them be celebrated and highlighted for something they’ve earned. This isn’t easy to get here, and it’s just special to be able to sit next to them and watch the kind of respect their peers have for them, that the league has for them and just how they match with their peers. And I think that’s the thing, you always want to be judged and graded by your peers and earn their respect, and I think our guys have done that.”

In the first game against Team World, Jalen Duren lodged the first bucket for Team Stripes with one of his patented lob dunks, then JD took the ball up-court for a flash of Point Duren on an ensuing possession. Not long after, Tyrese Maxey sprinted to the end-line to save a loose ball that wound up in Duren’s possession, and how did the first-time All-Star handle the rock? With a volleyball-inspired touch pass to a wide-open Ant Edwards under the hoop. 

From Cunningham’s perspective, the two-time All-Star showed the versatile, two-way acumen that he’s become known for in the first game even though his shot wasn’t falling. Cade finished game one with four points, three rebounds, three steals, one block and one assist for a +14 performance in what was a narrow 37-35 OT winner for the Stars. On the final play of overtime, Duren kicked the ball out to Scottie Barnes for the game-winning assist as the Raptors All-Star drilled a triple at the buzzer. 

In the second game, both Cunningham and JD were able to settle in and looked more comfortable in the All-Star setting. Cunningham forced several turnovers on defense and blocked a pair of Stripes’ shots on consecutive possessions, and Duren began to periodically assault the rim with one powerful dunk after the next. 

Cunningham finished the second game with a team-high 11 points, four assists and three rebounds, but the Stars were on the losing side by two points, so they would need a little help in the Stripes vs. World matchup to make the Championship Game. Duren, on the other hand, logged an efficient seven points (3-for-4 FGs) and three rebounds after his quick start to the second matchup. 

In the final game of the night, the Stars put their foot on the gas pedal to open the 12-minute frame and never looked back. Frankly, the Stripes were gassed after playing two games back-to-back while the Stars had the opportunity to rest up during the third game, but Cade and JD’s squad left no room for doubt in the Championship Game. 

Cunningham took a back seat role in the final frame since the outcome was well in hand after just a few minutes. Cade finished with two assists, a block and a rebound, while Duren posted six points (3-for-3 FGs) and four rebounds to clinch the All-Star Game victory. 

After the game, the All-Star Game trophy was presented to Team Stars, and Cunningham naturally held the hardware like a baby in his arms. After a few moments, Cunningham brought the trophy over to Bickerstaff, and the two were able to seal off an All-Star Weekend that expertly balanced competition with celebration, two things the Pistons know an awful lot about. 

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