It’s been a remarkable start to the campaign for Jalen Duren, the soon-to-be 22-year-old big man for the Detroit Pistons. A start to the season so good that the Pistons might be regretting not tying him down to a rookie extension before the beginning of the season. Duren is a colossus in the paint now, whilst dominating on the boards, as his blossoming partnership with All-Star Cade Cunningham is propelling the Pistons to a terrific 9-2 start.
Duren’s contract year is shaping up to be a career-defining one, with averages that put him in elite company across the board. The Pistons will have to increase their next contract offer to Duran significantly. Nevertheless, he looks like the next Pistons star.
Jalen Duren’s Start to the Season Is Placing Him Among Elite Company
Duren has proven to be an astute draft-night pickup by the Pistons back in 2022. Landing with the Pistons via the Charlotte Hornets. He’s shown steady improvement since his rookie year, but his fourth year in the league is proving to be a standout one.
Averaging career-highs with 19.4 points per game, along with 11.8 rebounds, before Monday’s game. Furthermore, he’s already on a torrid run of 6 games with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in a game. This places him in elite company alongside two of the best players in the NBA, Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo, each of whom has had six such games this season.
Most games with 20+ PTS, 10+ REB this season:
Jalen Duren – 6
Nikola Jokic – 6
Giannis Antetokounmpo – 6Duren is averaging career-highs with 19.4 PPG, 11.8 RPG. pic.twitter.com/RqNMjx5ylH
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) November 10, 2025
Duren put up 21 points and 16 rebounds when matching up with the Philadelphia 76ers the night before facing the Washington Wizards on Monday night. Duren followed that up by posting a further 14 rebounds in the Pistons’ dramatic overtime win over the Washington Wizards. Former Pistons star Rasheed Wallace worked with Duren over the summer, and the hard work has clearly paid off.
Duren previously described how he approached the workout with the legendary Wallace to the Detroit Free Press: “sharpening my tools and giving me gems more than anything, him giving me advice and knowledge on the game and what he’s seen. It was a good workout.” In particular, Duren recalled focusing on improving his pick-and-roll game and his touch around the rim.
This has paid off leaps and bounds to start the year. Averaging a career high in points and rebounds. Notably, his points per game have jumped from 11.8 last season to 19.4 so far this year. Furthermore, he has become a favorite target of point guard Cade Cunningham; they are the leading assist pair in the NBA with 25 assists, even before Monday’s game.
