DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 28: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons dunks in the first half while ... [+]
The Detroit Pistons didn't enter the 2023-2024 NBA campaign with high expectations.
However, given the play of second-year center Jalen Duren, perception of the club that finished dead-last a season ago is on the threshold of changing.
Duren, still just 19 years old, has played nothing short of spectacular basketball during the season's first three games.
He's been a dominant presence in the paint on both ends of the floor, showed a surprising playmaking element he didn't have last season, and has taken on a larger offensive role.
The result?
18.0 points, 15.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game.
Now, those numbers are likely going to settle in at lower numbers as the season progresses, especially as his current efficiency of 80% from the field is bound to decrease, but his early start has shown legitimate improvements.
The most important conversation around Duren isn't his ultimate stat line, but rather how his continued growth is going to help Detroit.
Cade Cunningham, the first overall selection in the 2021 draft, is about as unselfish as they come. While the Pistons will rely on Cunningham to score the ball, and preferably at a high clip, the lead-guard would never turn down the opportunity of feeding Duren, if the latter has an advantage.
In the early going of the season, chemistry between the two seem apparent, with Cunningham taking far more ownership of his presence around the free throw line, which collapses defenses, and allows Duren open pathways to the basket.
Duren's aggressiveness, and ability to put pressure on the rim, has resulted in 18 dunks this season already, or six per game.
Some might argue that when the open dunks go away, as teams inevitably will plan for Duren more, his effectiveness goes down.
There's merit to that thinking, especially as Duren isn't yet a floor spacer. But that's where Duren, unlike most players his age, can follow alternative paths to remain effective on the court. If his offensive opportunities are lessened, Duren is capable of playing the role of connector, setting hard screens, and pressuring the defense by diving deep. Even if that doesn't lead to shots for him, defenses will have to follow him, essentially shrinking the floor and allowing Cunningham and Jaden Ivey to attack single-coverage.
Furthermore, Duren appears far more effective defensively and on the glass this season than last. While he's been a quality rebound since entering the league, he's taken a step forward, and the same can be said of his defense. Last season, as a rookie, Duren would often find himself out of position, and struggling with spotting patterns, and identifying angles.
(Virtually every young big man rookie in the history of the game has gone through similarly, so that's not a knock on Duren.)
This season he seems smarter in reading where the ball is going, and acting accordingly, making himself a more influential presence on that side of the court. Whether that sticks for the full season remains to be seen, but at the very least he's shown that he's got the capability of reading an offense, which gives the coaching and development staff data points to work out of.
All in all, Duren's first three games have been so intriguing, it's worth keeping his name in the back of mind when zapping around on NBA League Pass. If he keeps this up, he becomes appointment viewing very soon.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
