Jalen Duren Scores 24 on 8-for-9 in Preseason Debut

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren opened his preseason debut with a dominant performance, scoring 24 points on 8-for-9 shooting against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. The 22-year-old center played just 15 minutes, going 8-for-8 from the free-throw line and contributing with three rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block.

Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised Duren's aggressive play and quickness, stating that he set the tone for the team. This was Duren's first game action of the preseason, as he had missed all of Detroit's voluntary September workouts, training camp, and the first two exhibition games due to contract negotiations. The Pistons finally reached an agreement on a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed extension with Duren in October, ending a standoff that had persisted through the summer and into training camp.

Duren, who had previously turned down offers between $170 million and $190 million, has now joined the ranks of top centers in the NBA. The Pistons, who went 60-22 last season and earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, will rely on Duren to be a reliable second option behind Cade Cunningham for the upcoming season. One brief 15-minute performance does not guarantee that Duren will live up to his new contract, but his aggressive play and quickness are promising developments for the team.