Jalen Duren continues to raise his stock this season and is showing how much of an impact he has on the court.
He’s averaging a double-double on the season with 17.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Duren has been a key contributor to the Detroit Pistons‘ success this season and he has caught the attention of many people across the league.
Even former NBA players are taking notice to Duren’s game. Chandler Parsons and DeMarcus Cousins believe Duren could be the starting center for Team USA. The 2028 Olympics is two years out and will be held in Los Angeles. Duren could be a strong candidate to be a part of the team, especially with how he’s been playing.
Former NBA Players Like Jalen Duren’s Game
On the Run It Back show, Parsons and Cousins were talking about Duren being a lock for the All-Star Game. “He is a just a junkyard dog who works hard and catches lobs and offensive rebounds,” Parsons said. “He’s an absolute stud and he knows his role as a big which is huge at 22-years-old.”
“But the fact that he can play with the ball in his hands and create his own offense. He can put the ball on the floor and he can shoot it a little bit,” Cousins added. “This kid has a lot of potential, he’s not a finished product but his future is really really bright.”
Duren is currently sixth in the league in rebounds per game and he is a physical force in the paint. Only in his fourth season, Duren will continue to get better with more experience and he has the potential to be one of the top centers in the league. This season, he has displayed his scoring abilities even more.
Back in November, he set a career-high in points scoring 33 against the Dallas Mavericks . Duren has done a good job of taking the load off of Cade Cunningham , especially on the offensive end. “I mean, he’s such a beast. He makes me look good,” Cunningham said after Duren’s career-high performance . “He makes my job easy.”
Jalen Duren, Strong Candidate to Make the All-Star Team
The numbers that Duren are putting up this season cannot go unnoticed. He is a good candidate to make the All-Star team and if he does, it will be his first All-Star selection. The Pistons could have two players featured in the All-Star Game this year. With Cunningham already being a lock as a starter, Duren could be the other addition as a reserve.
Duren leads his team with 20 double-doubles and that number will continue to climb. It will be hard not to consider him for the All-Star Game with what he’s done on the court so far this season and the fact that Detroit is the top team in the Eastern Conference as well. Duren has been playing at a high-level this season and he has improved his game significantly.
The reserves for the 75th All-Star Game will be announced on Sunday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock.
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