Jalen Duren, the (very) big engine of the Pistons
Jalen Duren he hasn’t turned 22 yet, but he’s already in his fourth NBA season. And that might be a blow for the Pistons pitching staff, especially in form early in the campaign…
Already the author of several big double-doubles, he additionally tormented the Nets with 30 points on 11/14 shooting, plus 11 rebounds. And while we might be worried about the Pistons after losing some valuable scorers, his deal with Cade Cunningham on the pick-and-roll allows Detroit to point to a 7-2 record.
“We made a plan for him over the summer and he was fully committed to it.”explains his coach, JB Bickerstaff. “He’s worked tirelessly on his game. The talent has always been there. I think now the confidence is coming, so he can see what he can do against other players. You see how much more aggressive he is offensively when he has the ball in his hands.”
The muscular pivot thus decided to attack his opponents much faster, and much harder, like this huge left-handed dunk on Noah Clowney in the first quarter!
“I think he was too passive last year. We wanted him to attack more. We want him to try to create more shots for himself, to put more pressure on the defense. I think he succeeded. It’s all the result of the work he did.” his coach continues to assure.
Potential MFA?
If he keeps up this pace, Jalen Duren will be a very strong contender for the MIP trophy at the end of the season.
“He is dominant”says his teammate, Cade Cunningham. “He doesn’t wait anymore. He attacks every game. The way he approaches the game lately is really amazing, and he has all the skills necessary to be successful at what he does. It’s really exciting.”
Encouraged by his teammates to be more aggressive, Jalen Duren also improved his dribbling, reading, and rim protection. Overall, he is a safe player.
“It’s not easy, but I love my job. I love the physical game, I spend all night fighting the opponent’s interior. I’m under the basket, so they send other guys to me. I face helpers, I get elbowed when I go through the racket… When guys try to go through my screens, it doesn’t make me complain about the job. But I try to work.” he concludes.
2025-11-08 14:32:00
