The Detroit Pistons seven- game winning streak has been powered by a two-man show as of late. 

Superstar guard Cade Cunningham was expected to be the starring actor if the Pistons were a feature film and center Jalen Duren was projected to play a supporting role along the way, but both players have risen to the role of protagonists for Detroit in their climb to top position in the Eastern Conference. 

Averaging 27.5 points and 9.9 assists per game, Cunningham has controlled games for the Pistons down the stretch, coming alive in the second half and fourth quarters of contests like no one else in the NBA. As of now, Cunningham leads the league in fourth quarter scoring, and the 6-6 All-Star looks to be every bit the MVP candidate that he was lauded heading into the season.

Duren, on the other hand, has emerged as a dominant force in the paint for Detroit. Cade and JD were already the top lob combo in the NBA entering the season, and that aerial connection has provided a litany of highlight reel slam dunks for the Pistons this season. Duren is in the process of averaging career highs in points, rebounds, blocks and steals per game, so the Pistons center is continuing to grow as patrols the paint in Motown.

Last season, Cunningham was an easy All-Star selection as he was in the midst of his most productive campaign yet. Detroit was just about to turn it around when the All-Star break hit, so the Pistons were gaining a bit of momentum at the time. After that, Cunningham helped lead Detroit on a playoff run, and the Pistons have now grown into one of the strongest teams in the early stages of the 2025-26 regular season. 

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As for Duren’s case, he is performing a cut above any other center in the Eastern Conference right now. Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been a popular All-Star choice in recent years, but he does not play frequently enough to be named the top center in the East. Cleveland big man Jarrett Allen is a force on defense and is quite efficient on the other end, but he doesn’t score at the level Duren has lately. Bam Adebayo and Karl-Anthony Towns are both worth consideration in this respect, but neither player is influencing the outcome of their team’s games to the level that Duren is this season.

Now, the Detroit Pistons have not had multiple players selected to the All-Star squad since both Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton were named to the East squad in the 2007-08 season. So, if Cunningham and Duren can continue their highly productive run of form, the dynamic duo could be the first Pistons pair in nearly 20 years to be named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team, and Duren’s numbers are deserving of that honor.

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But more than Duren’s numbers, his impact is what separates him from other bigs in the East this season. Duren flows in and out of the pick and roll smoothly, and he runs the floor as well as any center in the NBA. Duren has put his stamp on the Pistons’ success this year, and he would be a deserving choice for an All-Star nod as a result of his hard work.

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