Jalen Duren is no longer the young, promising former first-round pick with untapped potential. It’s starting to be realized. In his fourth NBA season, the Pistons’ starting center has blossomed into an array of middies, post hooks, double-doubles and self-made buckets.
Averages of 17.9 points and 10.6 boards, plus nearly a block and a steal per game, begin to tell the story of his budding All-Star campaign. He’s putting up 11 shots—four more than last season—a game and hitting 63 percent of them. His usage rate this season skyrocketed to the second most on the team, up to 22.7 percent, eight points higher than his rookie year.
He’s making reads out of the short roll, dishing to slashers and corner three-point shooters with added ease. He’s taking fellow centers off the dribble with no mercy. And he’s the first player since Dwight Howard in 2010 to drop 30 and 15 in a game on at least 90 percent shooting from the field.
There aren’t many bigs in the League who have the size, speed and quickness to keep up with Duren’s expanded offensive arsenal. In the post, he’s a bully. In the mid-range, it’s all finesse. Off the bounce, he’s simply gone.
Duren’s increased production and playmaking abilities already had him briskly sprinting toward the Most Improved Player award. But as soon as he hits a tween behind-the-back pull-up three, or crosses over a big on his way down the lane toward an and-one, that ceiling looks much, much higher.
Jared ebanks 