Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren locked in a massive five-year, $200 million contract extension, but he immediately called out what he labels as ‘false’ media speculation surrounding his contentious negotiations. Duren spoke to reporters on Sunday, making it crystal clear he wants to set the record straight on all the chatter that surrounded his new deal.
The Rumor Mill That Almost Spun Out of Control
The speculation wasn’t just whispers, either. Back in June, *The Athletic*’s Sam Amick reported that Duren was reportedly considering seeking a sign-and-trade away from Detroit. The buzz was that Duren felt “underwhelmed” by the Pistons’ initial offer, leading to all sorts of conjecture about his future with the team. It sounds like things were getting pretty wild behind the scenes, or at least, that’s what everyone thought.
Duren Fires Back: “A Lot Of Things Were False”
Duren wasted no time addressing the situation head-on, telling reporters, “Nothing came from me. Everything that was being heard was speculation… That’s part of the media’s job… I don’t fault anybody for that.” He followed that up with a strong statement, adding, “I do know that a lot of the things were false, and people believe things without it coming from the source’s mouth.” With that kind of money on the line, and his name being tossed around in trade rumors, you can see why he’d want to clear the air.
With the contract now signed, Duren is clearly ready to move forward from the speculation and onto the court, hoping his words put the rumor mill to rest for good.
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.
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