Pistons Big Man Joins Exclusive Company With Recent Feat
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On draft night 2022, the Detroit Pistons added a pair of promising young talents to their core. They selected Jaden Ivey with the fifth overall pick, followed by big man Jalen Duren at No. 13. As the latter continues to develop, he put his name is good company following his latest feat.
After a solid rookie campaign, Duren has taken a step forward in year two. With a few weeks to go in the season, his averages sit at 13.8 PPG, 11.7 RPG, and 2.6 APG. Duren is fresh off a 20-point, 10-rebound outing in a win over the Charlotte Hornets.
During that game, Duren managed to put his name in the history books. The Pistons big is the ninth player in history to record 1,000 rebounds, 200 assists, and 100 blocks before they turn 21. Some of the other players on the list include Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett.
On top of this accomplishment, Duren is also the only 20-year-old in history to average at least 11 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists for an entire season.
Whenever a player is putting their name alongside guys like LeBron and Giannis, they must be doing something right. Defensive questions aside, Duren is showing the potential to be the Pistons big man of the future.
For rebuilding teams, hitting with lottery picks is crucial. While he's still early in his career, Duren looks like he could be a hit for this front office. Still years away from his prime, he is already an athletic rim-running center who is averaging a double-double. If Duren continues to develop his game over time, he could be a highly impactful center in this league.
