After finally ending the standoff with Jalen Duren, the Detroit Pistons can finally focus on the task at hand: getting over the hump and making a deep postseason run in the 2026-27 season. They have to put the tensions in contract negotiations behind them and try to get the most out of Duren. For the Pistons to reach any of their goals, they need Duren to replicate his regular-season production and be way better in the playoffs.
Head coach JB Bickerstaff's remarks on Wednesday suggest that this might be possible. Bickerstaff said that Duren has done a "really good job of making small improvements all around" and appears to be "faster" and "more explosive," per Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press.
Jalen Duren may be even better after his All-NBA season
Bickerstaff added that he noticed that Duren's face-up game and work around the basket have improved.
This is an exciting development for the Pistons. It should give them some confidence that their All-Star center can reach new levels this season.
The fact that Duren is already looking better physically and athletically is a great sign, considering that he joined the team earlier this week. He missed Detroit's first preseason game because he wasn't considered to be ready. But he has seemingly done enough in practice to show his development.
Bickerstaff also said that he expected Duren to make his preseason debut in one of the three remaining games before the season. Earlier in the week, he had said that the plan was to get Duren ready for the first game of the regular season. Now, the 22-year-old center is expected to be ready before then, which could be a positive sign for his physical fitness.
Knowing Duren's growth trajectory, this is hardly surprising. He has been improving every year he has been in the league. He has become a far better defender. Offensively, he is able to beat his defender one-on-one and create his own shot way more effectively than before.
Duren has already become a good face-up player and is one of the best finishers in the league. If he is even better like Bickerstaff is suggesting here, Duren could be one of the most efficient offensive players in the league this year.
The most important thing for him will be translating his game to the playoffs. That requires more than just physical development, but being faster and more explosive will certainly help.
A lot of attention will be on Duren this season. His relationship with the fanbase and the organization has been strained. So, he can't afford to take a step back from last season. Let's hope that Bickerstaff is correct in his statement. Only then can Pistons fans feel good about their title chances.
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