The Detroit Pistons are making waves in the NBA, firmly establishing themselves as one of the top teams this season. With a record of 51-19, they've already clinched a playoff spot, largely thanks to the stellar play of Cade Cunningham. However, the team now faces the challenge of finishing the regular season without their star guard due to his recent collapsed lung.
Cunningham's absence might affect his All-NBA First Team selection chances, sparking debates about who might step up in his place. This opens the door for Pistons center Jalen Duren, who’s been turning heads with his impressive stats-averaging 19.2 points and 10.5 rebounds on a remarkable 64.2% shooting from the field. Duren's performance puts him in the running for an All-NBA selection, which could make him eligible for a lucrative five-year, $288 million rookie supermax extension.
According to experts, if Duren misses the All-NBA team, his max deal would drop to $240.7 million over five years-a significant $48.1 million difference. With many stars still vying for All-NBA spots, the final selections are far from settled as teams have around 12 to 15 games remaining this season.
Several prominent players are on the edge of qualifying, including Nikola Jokic, Devin Booker, and Evan Mobley, each with a couple of games left to miss before falling short of the 65-game requirement. Others like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Stephen Curry are already out of the running for this season’s All-NBA due to missed games.
Duren's chances of making the All-NBA Third Team look promising, even if most of the bubble players meet their eligibility. He would likely be considered alongside other stars such as Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Donovan Mitchell. Expanding the pool to include Jamal Murray and Kevin Durant further bolsters his chances.
Having no players from the top-seeded team in the East would be unusual if Cunningham doesn't make it, so Duren has a solid shot at his first All-NBA nod at just 22 years old. However, this could pose financial challenges for the Pistons. Duren's supermax contract would add an extra $48.1 million burden, limiting the team's financial flexibility in the new second-apron era, especially with Cunningham already on a max deal.
Future extensions for rising stars like Ausar Thompson could add to the financial strain, but the Pistons can take pride in having two homegrown All-NBA talents leading the franchise into the future.