Jalen Duren’s NBA future is getting a lot of support from Penny Hardaway
Coming off a 44-win campaign in 2024-25, Expectations were high for the Detroit Pistons starts the 2025-26 season. The Pistons exceeded even those high expectations of them. Thanks to another jump from both Cade Cunningham and Jalen DurenThe Pistons are off to an incredible start to the new campaign, leading the Eastern Conference standings at a 13-2 start.
Cunningham’s development into one of the best all-around players in the NBA shouldn’t surprise anyone. He was the first overall pick in 2021, so it’s not like he was some rough diamond the Pistons unearthed. But Duren’s emergence as one of the NBA’s most dominant big men was really more of a surprise.
Duren looked lost on defense in his earlier years in the NBA. He’s already blossomed into one of the best rebounders in the league, but his inability to anchor the Pistons’ defense is what proved to be his undoing. But he’s turned the corner on that end of the floor and plays with raw but controlled force — allowing Detroit to overwhelm opponents.
Pistons center has come a long way from his days with the Memphis Tigers back in college, and his former head coach, Penny Hardawaygave him the stamp of approval.
“Jalen will always continue to develop his game,” Hardaway said on SiriusXM’s NBA Today show. “He’s always going to keep working on his game and he’s going to get better and better. You’re just seeing him scratch the surface right now. The ceiling is on the way. He just has a bright future.”
“He just has a bright future!” 👏
Penny Hardaway joined @TermineRadio and @Jumpshot8 on @SIRIUSKSM‘s NBA Today to discuss Jalen Duren’s rise with the Pistons this season! pic.twitter.com/kGEIV4Slud
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 20, 2025
Jalen Duren made a rebound for the Pistons
It goes without saying that Duren is a monster on the glass. He also turned it over in defense. But the constant improvement of the offense is what takes his game to the next level for the Pistons. He’s not just your standard big man anymore.
Duren puts the ball on the floor and even shoots and misses hard shots. He takes slower defenders off the dribble and punishes them accordingly. He’s become such a scary player, and he’s only 22 years old.
2025-11-21 06:22:00
