The Detroit Pistons have found themselves the perfect second star next to Cade Cunningham. Big man Jalen Duren has become a cornerstone of the Pistons franchise and is on track for his first All-Star nod.
Duren, who just turned 22, has been a revelation for the Pistons, who currently hold the best record in the Eastern Conference, thanks in large part to his rapid development.
In his fourth season, Duren nearly doubled his career scoring average while posting a true shooting percentage of 70 percent. He is also a rebounding machine, ranking sixth in the league, and has improved significantly as a rim protector for the Pistons’ fourth-ranked defense.
The Cunningham and Duren duo is one of the best pick-and-rolls in the NBA. Duren has made more shots at the rim off Cunningham’s passes than any two-way combination in the league so far this season.
The Pistons have also allowed Duren to be more of a shot creator and playmaker this season. This proved fruitful for Detroit’s offense, not least because it helped take some of the offensive burden off Cunningham’s shoulders.
The video above details how Duren thrives in tandem with Cunningham, as well as the three most improved areas of Duren’s game.
