We are only a month into the NBA season, but if it were to end right now, Jalen Duren would have the Most Improved Player award wrapped up.
Early in the season, it looked as though he’d have some competition from his own team, as Isaiah Stewart has gotten off to a strong start, and Ausar Thompson is already turning some heads.
But right now, that award would have to go to Duren, who has been one of the catalysts behind the Pistons’ hot start. Duren’s game holds up no matter how you look at it.
Jalen Duren: Advanced analytics and the eye test
Duren’s game has taken a huge leap no matter how you want to break it down.
He’s averaging the most points, rebounds, steals, blocks and free-throw attempts of his career. It’s the latter stat that has really propelled him, as Duren is getting to the line 7.3 times per game, more than double his career average, and he is making 78 percent of them so far.
The advanced numbers back him up as well, as Duren is one of the most efficient players in the NBA, with an incredible 72 percent true shooting percentage, which is currently 7th in the NBA, a tick behind Nikola Jokic.
He’s also protecting the rim at an elite rate, allowing just 55 percent shooting at the rim, which is near the top of the league and just behind teammate Isaiah Stewart, who is currently leading the NBA in opponent’s field goal percentage at the rim.
It’s easy enough to quantify Duren’s case for MIP with the numbers, but he is also passing the eye test in a big way.
Duren is taking defenders off the dribble regularly and recently started pulling up for jumpers that he is draining. They are not only going in, but look smooth, like something he can do more of in the future.
He’s bullying opponents on both ends in ways that few players can do, as he is doing it with physical dominance that most centers can’t match. There aren’t many players left who can completely bulldoze defenders in the paint, but Duren is one of them.
There are only three players in the NBA averaging at least 20 points and 12 rebounds per game on at least 60 percent shooting. Those players are Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jalen Duren, so JD is putting himself in the ranks of the elite when it comes to scoring efficiency and rebounding.
He just has to prove he can do this for the whole season, and Duren will not only win MIP but will likely find himself on the All-Star team.