If the Detroit Pistons are going to take the next step toward contending in 2025-26, then Cade Cunningham needs Jalen Duren to make the leap. Duren has been knocking on the door of stardom since he first broke out in 2023-24 as an efficient double-double machine with an intriguing skill set.
After seeing his playing time slashed by 3.0 minutes per game in 2024-25, however, Duren needs to prove that he's the star the Pistons believe he can be.
Cunningham has secured his place among the top players in the Eastern Conference. In 2024-25, he averaged 26.1 points, 9.1 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 1.0 steal, 0.8 blocks, and 2.1 three-point field goals made on .469/.356/.846 shooting, earning All-NBA Third Team honors along the way.
Cunningham then helped Detroit push the New York Knicks to six games during the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs in a series that further illuminated Duren's upside and room for improvement.
Duren dominated with 4.7 offensive rebounds per game and showcased his skill as a passer at 3.5 assists per contest. He also had a 21-point showing in Game 6 that was unfortunately balanced by three outings during which he failed to score in double figures.
Duren's value isn't inherently defined by his scoring, of course, but the Pistons need him to establish a star-caliber baseline for his nightly value in 2025-26.
Jalen Duren must make the leap for Cade Cunningham, Pistons to excel
Duren's breakout campaign in 2023-24 was largely centered around his uncanny ability to dominate the glass. He averaged 13.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.1 offensive boards, 2.4 assists, and 0.8 blocks while shooting 61.9 percent from the field and 79.0 percent at the free throw line.
Unfortunately, after playing 29.1 minutes per game in 2023-24, his average decreased to 26.1 in 2024-25—and yet, he committed more fouls per game.
Duren consistently finding himself in foul trouble is one of the primary reasons he's yet to make the leap his other statistics suggest he's in the midst of. He can impose his will on both ends of the floor, but reckless challenges have too often forced Detroit to operate without him.
In 2024-25, Duren ranked No. 6 in the NBA in personal fouls per game and No. 5 in personal fouls per 36 minutes—and two of the four players ahead of him were rookies.
There's certainly something to be said for physical defense, particularly when a 6'10" and 250-pound powerhouse is the one setting the tone down low. The less he's on the court, however, the fewer opportunities he'll have to make his impact felt in other areas.
As a skilled big who has more to offer than physicality on defense, Duren must find a way to strike a balance between his current approach and what Detroit otherwise needs of him.
Jalen Duren is too talented to consistently end up in foul trouble
When he wasn't in foul trouble, Duren made undeniable progress between 2023-24 and 2024-25. He increased his production by 0.7 assists, 1.0 offensive rebound, 0.6 blocks, and 0.3 steals per 36 minutes, and saw a massive leap in field goal percentage from .619 to .692.
It simply won't matter how much progress Duren makes until he finds a way to avoid committing the type of mistakes that can take him off the court.
It's an essential development that he must make for his undeniable impact on winning to be felt. For instance: In 2024-25, the Pistons were 4-0 when he scored at least 20 points and 17-6 when he put at least 15 points on the board—a stark contrast to going 26-29 when he played and failed to.
Duren should be able to sustain that success as a scorer by committing fewer fouls, restoring his efficiency at the free throw line, and continuing to dominate the offensive glass.
At his best, Duren is a top-tier big on both ends of the floor ready to help Detroit make the leap and co-star with Cunningham. He ranked No. 4 in the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage in 2024-25, and proved during the playoffs that he's capable of making a nightly impact defensively.
If Cunningham is going to turn his leap to superstardom into the Pistons contending, however, then Duren will need to limit his fouls and become the consistent force Detroit needs him to be.