Detroit Pistons: Player grades at the All-Star break

Detroit Pistons: Player grades at the All-Star break

Jalen Duren – B+

Duren was not expected to start out of the gate. The NBA’s youngest player was seen as a bit of a project, and like Ivey, an athletic marvel. How quickly his athleticism would translate into high level skill was in question. Turns out, it’s happening a lot faster than most anticipated. With Stewart, Bagley and Noel all ahead of him on the depth chart at the start of the season, he was only supposed to fill in until the injured veterans returned. Now, here we are, with his rookie season nearly in the books and the sky is the limit. Over eight points and eight boards with a 65 percent field goal percentage doesn’t begin to depict who Duren is on the court. He’s averaged a double double as a starter and has already put himself in the record books with LeBron James. Not a bad start for Duren.

Bogan Bogdonovic – A-

In good conscience, I could hand out one such grade as only Bogie has played outstanding basketball this season. When one looks at what he is surrounded by, the state of the organization that he’s a part of, where he just came from versus where he is, it’s hard not to appreciate the effort he has put forth for the Detroit Pistons. Perhaps more should have been made as to his being snubbed by those who voted for All-Stars, but unfortunately Detroit’s record just makes it too easy to overlook the veteran in the midst of a career year where he has a chance to join the 50/40/90 club.

Cade Cunningham – Incomplete

Speaking of the MotorCade, Cade Cunningham didn’t spend enough time on the court to be fairly graded. He played just 12 games (all of them on a shin that had been bothering him since high school, mind you) and for the most part, put up better numbers despite having to share the ball more than he did during the second half of his rookie season. The subpar accuracy from long range remains worrying but he is so fantastic from midrange that it remains likely he’ll gain mastery of the 3-ball, too. A letter grade isn’t necessary to know that Cade is at the head of the class.