The Detroit Pistons opted not to extend Jalen Duren’s rookie contract by the Oct. 20 deadline this year
Over the past several months, Jalen Duren has been a part of many first-time experiences. After the 2024-25 regular season ended, Duren played in the postseason with the Pistons for the first time in his career. A few months later, the Detroit center joined his teammate, star point guard Cade Cunningham, in Rome, Italy for his first major trip abroad. And now with the Pistons at 21-6 on the year, Duren is experiencing legitimate buzz around his All-Star chances for the first time in his career.
Averaging north of 18 points and 11 rebounds per game, Duren is breaking out in a big way as a nightly double-double performer for the Pistons, who are in first place in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons are firing on all cylinders right now, and Duren was key in guiding Detroit through an injury-intensive stretch for the squad in the early stages of this season.
But before the Pistons experienced this type of success, the organization had to make a decision. Jalen Duren and guard Jaden Ivey were both facing a late-October deadline to receive long-term extensions to their rookie contracts. The Pistons had until Oct. 20 to extend those deals, and Detroit declined to not to pursue extensions at that time. So, both Duren and Ivey are slated to hit the upcoming offseason as restricted free agents once Detroit extends qualifying offers, which is virtually a guarantee.
During a recent interview on The Zach Lowe Show, Duren spoke with the Ringer NBA analyst about his inability to reach an agreement with the Pistons on a contract extension two months ago.
“I think me going into it, at first I didn’t really want to know too much,” Duren said of the negotiations. “I wanted to know feedback. I kind of wanted to know what the team was thinking, where they wanted to see me evolve, kind of excel, where they wanted to see me develop.”
But rather than being deterred by the lack of an extension, Duren attacked his fourth season as a pro with a renewed vigor and a deeper bag of tricks than before. This season, Duren looks more comfortable on dribble-drives, and he’s turned into an efficiency merchant not just around the rim but with his jump shots as well.
“I wasn’t upset,” Duren said. “It was more like I understand my worth. I do think the team probably didn’t understand my worth too, but we just weren’t able to come to an agreement at that specific time. Like I said, I’m focused on my game, the season and the team and chasing the championship, and we can revisit that when the time is right.”
Now that Duren has started this season in such impressive form, the All-Star candidate likely has a stronger position of leverage when it comes time to negotiate his contract after the season. So, Duren chose to gamble on his own ability, and he’s willing to let the chips fall where they may after the season.
Duren and the Pistons will take the court later tonight as the Charlotte Hornets (9-18) come to Motown for a 7:30 pm tip-off.
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