Jalen Duren’s All-Star case is clear with the Pistons’ breakout season

The Detroit PistonsThe breakthrough of 2025-26 is largely due to the development of their young core. This group is composed from 2020-21. One of the most important parts of that core is the 22-year-old center Jalen Durenwho is slated to be an NBA All-Star in 2026 after his breakout campaign.

Former Pistons general manager Troy Weaver was eager to pair an athletic lobby threat with a franchise point guard. Cade Cunningham during the 2022 NBA Draft, Weaver made a bold move, trading for downtown Memphisand the acquisition is paying off, with Duren being considered for his first career NBA All-Star berth.

Duren is emerging as one of the most promising centers in the league. That promise translates into individual success for Duren and team success for the Pistons. Detroit changed its identity as one of the worst teams in league history to currently stand as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 33-11.

The case for Duren becoming an All-Star is getting a lot of attention around the league. NBA media, coaches and players have delighted with its development and impact on his team this season. The All-Star Reserves will be announced on February 1st. Duren could join Cunningham and head coach JB Bickerstaff as the third Piston in Los Angeles.

Jalen Duren is expanding his offensive game

Duren entered the league highly regarded offensively for his production as a rebounding and dunk threat. His athletic 250-pound frame promises a lot, and his offensive development shows just how dangerous he can be.

Duren is averaging a career-high 17.8 points per game. However, his points come in a variety of ways besides catching lobs from Cunningham. Duren has become more confident as a shot creator by getting to the rim off the dribble. There were also flashes of Duren as a mid-range shooter.

Duren has been one of the most consistent double-double machines since joining the NBA. He currently has 20 in the 2025-26 regular season.

The Pistons are at their best offensively when they move the ball effectively. Duren was reliable as a playmaker and even brought the ball up the floor to set up the offense as a center. Bickerstaff encouraged Duren to confidently expand those areas of his game, and they seem to be working for him and the team.

“When we got here and watched some film, you could see what he was capable of. And then our responsibility was to put him in a position to make more of those decisions and let him practice them,” Bickerstaff he explained to the media. “He’s an elite passer when we put the ball in his hands. He understands when to attack his man and score. I think the confidence has changed in his aggressiveness. He’s been a lot more aggressive this year in a positive way and makes the right decisions at the end.”

Improved defense

The primary focus of the Pistons’ identity is on the defensive end. One of the biggest highlights of Duren’s game is his production on the defensive end. Detroit is second in the NBA’s defensive rankings, and Duren is one of the biggest reasons why.

Duren posted a career-best defensive rating of 107.1. His defensive focus was much better as a rim protector and against bigs who can operate on the perimeter. Duren has also cut down on the silly fouls that got him in big trouble last season.

Improved defensive efforts are also the result of improved rotations around Duren. Detroit was able to insert backup center Isaiah Stewart into the starting lineup due to the injury to forward Tobias Harris. The Pistons also benefited from strong collective efforts from Cunningham, Auzar Thompson, Ron Holland, JaVonte Green and others. Detroit’s defensive depth hasn’t been as deep as it has been this season, and Duren certainly benefits from that.

Pistons team success

Over the past few seasons, the Pistons have arguably been overlooked for awards due to the team’s success. Cunningham finished third for the 2021 Rookie of the Year award thanks to a team record of 23-59. Bickerstaff came in second in the 2024-25 Coach of the Year race as Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference. The tide has turned for Detroit as they are now atop the East and one of the best teams in the league.

The Pistons’ team success should certainly give Duren an advantage over other centers in his conference. He averages similar numbers to Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo. New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns is having a statistically bad year, and the Knicks haven’t shown the same dominance as last season. Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is the only center who could give him the edge for the spot, but Duren has the edge over him due to availability and the team’s track record. Embiid would also likely represent the World Team instead of the USA based on the new NBA All-Star format.

Duren was placed in a favorable position thanks to the success of the Pistons. The impressive start helped Cunningham earn his first recognition as an All-Star starter. Bickerstaff will also be an All-Star head coach because of what the Pistons have accomplished so far.