Being called the “fourth-best player” on your own squad? That’s what reportedly got under All-Star center Jalen Duren’s skin during his recent contract talks with the Detroit Pistons, right before he put pen to paper on a monster five-year, $200 million deal last week. ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill reported Duren was flat-out frustrated hearing that label thrown around. Man, imagine being an All-Star and hearing that at the negotiating table.
From Draft Pick to All-Star Powerhouse
Let’s be real, Duren has been an absolute force since the Pistons drafted him 13th overall back in 2022. He’s been an impact player for all four of his years in the league, but last season? He took his game to another level entirely. We’re talking career-high numbers, dropping 19.5 points per game on a ridiculous 65.0 percent shooting from the field. Add in 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists, and you’ve got a guy who wasn’t just good, he was *elite*. This explosion earned him his first All-Star nod and an All-NBA Third Team selection. During the regular season, he was clearly the Pistons’ second-best player, right behind Cade Cunningham. The team was flying high too, shocking everyone by posting the best record in the Eastern Conference at a phenomenal 60-22. They were arguably *the* team to beat.
Playoff Struggles: The Truth Behind the ‘4th-Best’ Label
But then the playoffs hit, and things got… complicated. Detroit scrapped through a tough seven-game series against the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in the first round, showing some real grit. However, they ultimately fell in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. After their elimination, Duren’s significant dip in play became a huge talking point. His regular season dominance just wasn’t there. In 14 playoff games, his averages dropped to a mere 10.2 points on 51.4 percent shooting, with 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He really struggled in that second-round series, managing only 9.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. This is where that “fourth-best” tag started to make a little more sense. In the playoffs, Duren found himself as the fourth-leading scorer for the Pistons, trailing Cunningham, Tobias Harris, and Duncan Robinson. That’s a brutal drop-off for a guy who was All-NBA just weeks before.
The Big Payday and What’s Next
Despite the playoff struggles and whatever hurt feelings came from those negotiation chats, Duren and the Pistons found common ground and hammered out that massive new deal. This means the franchise is still fully committed to him, betting big that he’ll bounce back from those playoff woes and consistently perform at his All-Star level. He’s absolutely going to be counted on as a key player this coming season and for the next five years. You know the pressure is on now. The expectations are through the roof for Duren to prove he’s worth every single penny and to show everyone he’s far more than just the “fourth-best” guy on the team, especially when the games matter most.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply