Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren is the latest hooper to receive the star treatment on the cover of SLAM Magazine
Hot off the press!
The new cover of the famous hoops publication SLAM Magazine is out, and the cover athlete is none other than Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren. Take a look at the cover below to see the Pistons big man smile for his close-up.
In the past, Detroit players such as Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson and Ben Wallace have all appeared on the cover of SLAM Magazine, but this is a first for the 22-year old center.
This year, Duren is having a breakout season for the Eastern Conference’s first place Pistons squad. JD is averaging 17.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in the middle for Detroit, and he’s continued to angrily assault the rim in his continued lob connection with Cade Cunningham.
Leaping from beyond the paint or from the dunker’s spot tucked below the rim, Duren has a knack for hauling in Cunningham’s alley-oops, and it’s become a signature play for the duo. Right now, Cunningham is in line to make another All-Star squad a month from now, but Duren is likely to need a coach’s selection to make the team since he’s currently outside of the top 20 in the East. However, if Duren is selected, the Pistons will have two All-Stars in the same season for the first time since the 2007-08 season.
By all accounts, Duren is on the cusp of receiving the national attention that he deserves, and his selection to grace the cover of SLAM Magazine underscores how marketable the young, powerful Detroit center can be.
In the coming years, look for Duren to continue gaining traction as a player with league-wide appeal as a member of Team USA. Right now, USA Basketball is going through a transition period as many longtime vets are aging out of the program, and that will free up new spots for players such as Duren and Cunningham to occupy. The next Summer Olympics will arrive in 2028, so Duren still has another two years to continue growing into what could be a starring role on Team USA.
Recently, Duren has missed the past three games for the Pistons due to a sprained ankle, but the Detroit medical staff is slated to reevaluate JD before the team’s next game against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, Jan. 15. In the meantime, the Pistons have opted to start Paul Reed and Javonte Green in the front court since Isaiah Stewart has also missed the last two games due to an illness of his own.
For more information on the latest Detroit Pistons team or player news, follow @EricJRutter on X for continued basketball coverage. Also be sure to look up Roundtable - Michigan Men Media on Facebook for continued social media coverage of all the sporting teams in the Mitten.