Over the past decade, representation during the All-Star festivities has been severely lacking for the Detroit Pistons. The team has had only three All-Star appearances, Andre Drummond in 2016 and 2018 and Blake Griffin in 2019.
The Pistons have not had a player participate in the dunk contest since Drummond did so in 2016. The last time a Detroit player was in the Rising Stars game was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in 2015.
The All-Star break simply has not been an exciting time for Pistons fans over the past few years. The most notable stories to come out of this time of year have typically been trade rumors.
As Detroit begins to turn the corner on their restoration, this could be the season Pistons fans finally see their team represented during the All-Star festivities.
Here are three Pistons players who fans could see participate in All-Star events.
Detroit Pistons: Can Jerami Grant push for an All-Star nod?
Jerami Grant came close to an All-Star nomination in the 2020-21 season. The 27-year-old power forward posted career-highs in points per game, assists per game and minutes per game. The breakout star was the runner up for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.
This year, Grant is going to have to take another step forward if he is to have any hope of making the All-Star roster this season.
The Eastern Conference has only gotten deeper since the end of the 2020-21 season. DeMar Derozan and Kelly Oubre Jr. join an already deep group of front court players competing for limited spots on the All-Star roster.
Realistically, there are one or two spots up for grabs which Grant will have to compete for. He will have to outplay the likes of Derozan, Bam Adebayo and others in order to win a spot.
It is an uphill battle for Grant to fight his way into an All-Star selection. But if he can take another step forward this upcoming season, there is no reason to count him out.
Detroit Pistons: Saddiq Bey could shoot his way into the Three-Point Contest
Saddiq Bey was one of the best rookies in the NBA last season. The 22-year-old wing was named to the All-Rookie First Team.
Bey made his mark on the league from beyond the three-point line. He attempted 6.6 three pointers per game in his rookie year. Of those 6.6 attempts, he sunk 2.5 of them per contest. Bey shot 38 percent from beyond the arc for Detroit.
The 22-year-old will continue to improve his offensive game as he develops in the 2021-22 season. With the departure of Wayne Ellington, Bey will be competing with Frank Jackson to be the Pistons leading three-point shooter. Bey will have much more opportunity than Jackson this season, so it is practically inevitable that he establishes himself as Detroit’s top shooter.
If Bey can bring his three-point shooting percentage up to 40 percent, there is every possibility that the 22-year-old will be invited to compete in the Three-Point Contest.
Bey would have the opportunity to become the first Detroit Piston to win the Three-Point Contest since its inception in 1986. It would not be easy.
Bey would likely face off against reigning contest champion Stephen Curry, not to mention Klay Thompson, Jayson Tatum, and Donovan Mitchell.
If he were invited to compete in the Three-Point Contest, Bey would not be considered a favorite to win. But if Saddiq Bey found his way into the All-Star festivities, Pistons fans would finally have something to talk about during the All-Star break besides trade rumors.
Detroit Pistons: Someone from Detroit’s young core is participating in the Rising Stars game
The most likely All-Star event the Pistons will be represented in is the Rising Stars game. The game consists of rookies and sophomores split between Team USA and Team World.
With a young core of players comprised of Cade Cunningham, Bey, Isaiah Stewart, and Killian Hayes, the Pistons should be favored to have at least one player participating in the Rising Stars game, possibly more.
Cunningham is the obvious favorite for a nod to Team USA. The first overall pick will be entering his rookie season with high expectations in Detroit. Cunningham has the traits and skills to be an impact player immediately this season. His nomination to Team USA could also pair him with the number two overall pick from 2021, Jalen Green.
Green has made it no secret he is spiteful of the Pistons passing on him in favor of Cunningham. It would be interesting to see the two play together on the same team during the All-Star break.
Stewart and Bey are definitely in the running for Spots on Team USA. The pair were both named to the All-Rookie Teams this past season. As they continue to develop and improve they could both make strong cases to participate in the Rising Stars game as well.
Hayes is the only Piston who could play for Team World. The second-year point guard would have to improve the most out of any of this group if he wants to make the Rising Stars game. After struggling in his rookie season, Hayes has a lot to prove in 2021-22. An appearance in the All-Star festivities would be the result of drastic improvement from the young point guard.
No matter who ends up making the Rising Stars roster, this is the year Detroit will make a return to All-Star break representation. Grant in the All-Star game and Bey in the Three-Point Contest are both uphill battles. But one or two Pistons should find their way onto the Rising Stars roster.