Time for nation to see Detroit Pistons’ rising stars
The Detroit Pistons will be well-represented at NBA All-Star Weekend. Now, it would have been nice to have a player, or two, in the actual all-star game, but being having three players be part of the activities is a good way for the country’s pro basketball fans to get introduced to Detroit’s young talent.
When you are near the bottom of the standings (Orlando has the worst record), getting any spot in the NBA’s showcase event, All-Star Weekend, is an accomplishment. The Detroit Pistons actually have three participants, with Cade Cunningham in two events.
Since the Pistons get little national TV coverage, a lot of the country will be exposed to these players for the first time.
Friday night at 9 p.m. is the Rising Stars Game, featuring four teams of rookies, sophomores and young G-League players. Cunningham will play for Team Barry (Jalen Green is not on his team), while Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey are on Team Isiah, coached by Pistons legend Isiah Thomas (gee whiz, wonder how they ended up on HIS team, LOL).
On Saturday, Cunningham will take part in the Skills Challenge, which will be held right before the 3-point shooting and Slam Dunk contests on Saturday night.
(Note: for some odd reason, Hamidou Diallo, a previous winner of the slam dunk competition, was not invited.
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Cunningham will play on the ‘Rooks’ team in the challenge, along with top performing rEvan Mobley and Josh Giddey (Hmm, where is Jalen Green? Oh, he was not invited). It will be a fun opportunity to see the two players mentioned most for Rookie of the Years honors, Mobley and Cunningham, in action on the same team.
The Skills Challenge is not the most physically demanding event, so fans should not worry about Cunningham doing double-duty aggravating his hip injury in it.
This is the first time the Pistons have ever had three players in the Rising Stars Game. It is nice to talk among followers of the team about how the Pistons have some promising young talent. But it even better to have it validated by the NBA that, yes, Detroit does indeed, have some talent coming up.
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Hopefully, if things go right, the Pistons will soon have players in action on Sunday’s, in the actual All-Star game, but at least Detroit fans get to feel a part of the all-star weekend.