Jalen Duren is having a season to remember - and the league is finally taking notice.
The 22-year-old center has officially earned his first All-Star selection and will also throw his name into the ring for this year’s dunk contest, becoming just the fourth Piston ever to participate. But if you ask teammate Cade Cunningham, this is only the beginning for Duren.
“He’s gonna be the best bigs in this league one day,” Cunningham said after Detroit’s 118-80 dismantling of the Knicks. “He’s on his way there.”
It’s hard to argue with him.
Now in his fourth season, Duren has emerged as one of the driving forces behind the Pistons’ rise to the top tier of the Eastern Conference. Alongside Cunningham, he’s helped transform Detroit from a rebuilding project into a legitimate contender. And while the Pistons have plenty of young talent, Duren’s impact on both ends of the floor has been impossible to ignore.
He’s averaging 17.7 points on a blistering 63% shooting, pulling down 10.5 rebounds a night, and adding nearly a steal per game - all while anchoring the paint defensively. Those numbers are impressive on paper, but they only tell part of the story.
Duren brings a physical presence and energy that sets the tone for this team. Whether it’s finishing lobs, cleaning the glass, or switching onto guards in crunch time, he’s doing it all - and doing it with a maturity well beyond his years.
At just 22, he’s already one of the most efficient scoring bigs in the league, and his chemistry with Cunningham has become one of Detroit’s most dangerous weapons. The Pistons have won 10 of their last 13 games, and at 38-13, they trail only the defending champion Thunder in the overall standings.
Cade on Jalen Duren:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) February 7, 2026
"He's gonna be the best big in this league one day. He's on his way there" pic.twitter.com/Cxm1PdPEYH
Duren’s All-Star nod feels less like a breakout and more like a confirmation - a sign that the rest of the league is catching up to what Detroit has known for a while. He’s not just a promising young big. He’s a foundational piece, the kind of player you build a franchise around.
That said, the Pistons are being cautious with their rising star. A knee injury sidelined Duren for Friday’s blowout win over New York, and his status remains day-to-day. His next opportunity to return will be against the Hornets, kicking off a four-game road trip that stretches through the All-Star break.
But even with the injury, Duren’s presence will be felt during All-Star Weekend. He’ll be suiting up for the big game and taking flight in the dunk contest, joining Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes and Spurs rookie Carter Bryant in what promises to be a high-flying showcase.
For a player who’s quietly become one of the league’s most complete young centers, it’s a well-deserved spotlight. And if Cunningham’s prediction holds true, this won’t be Duren’s last trip to All-Star Weekend - it’ll just be the first chapter in what’s shaping up to be a special career.