{"id":121040,"date":"2025-02-04T06:30:15","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T11:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=121040"},"modified":"2025-02-04T05:01:50","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T10:01:50","slug":"patience-with-jalen-duren-paying-off-for-pistons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/04\/patience-with-jalen-duren-paying-off-for-pistons\/","title":{"rendered":"How Patience With Jalen Duren Is Paying Off For Pistons"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Pistons\u2019<\/a> resurgence this season has been driven by their young core\u2014a group determined to prove themselves after last year\u2019s struggles. Written off following a disappointing campaign, they\u2019ve entered the 2024-25 season on a mission to show they can develop into something special.<\/p>\n

Cade Cunningham\u2019s<\/a> leap into All-Star status<\/a> has been well-documented. Jaden Ivey<\/a> was in the midst of his best season before a broken fibula<\/a> sidelined him. Ausar Thompson<\/a> has returned from his health scare<\/a>, flashing his potential<\/a> as a versatile, do-it-all contributor. But one member of this core who has faced the most scrutiny is Jalen Duren<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Since joining the Pistons<\/a>, Duren has shown flashes of becoming a reliable double-double machine. Through 47 games, he\u2019s averaging 10.7 points and 10.0 rebounds on an efficient 70.3% shooting. While those numbers are solid for his position, some believe he has yet to unlock his full potential. Inconsistency has been a key concern, and his development on the defensive end has left some fans questioning whether he\u2019s the long-term answer at center.<\/p>\n

However, Duren\u2019s recent performances have started to change that narrative. Over his last five games, he has showcased his ability to impact both ends of the floor\u2014offering a reminder of why patience is crucial when developing young players. What has clicked for Duren during this stretch, and how has it helped fuel the Pistons\u2019 recent improvement? Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n

How Patience With Jalen Duren Is Paying Off For Pistons<\/h2>\n

Duren Hits His Stride Anchoring the Pistons<\/h3>\n

For young players, it\u2019s easy to get discouraged during rough stretches\u2014especially when teammates off the bench seem to be making a bigger impact. However, development is about persistence, and pushing through adversity is crucial.<\/p>\n

Early in the season, opposing teams exploited Duren\u2019s defensive weaknesses. Mobile centers pulled him away from the paint, forcing him to defend in space\u2014an area where he struggled. His foul trouble often led to Isaiah Stewart<\/a> stepping in, whose defensive versatility and discipline made a noticeable difference.<\/p>\n

Now, Duren appears to be turning a corner. He\u2019s trusting himself more and learning to move past mistakes. January<\/a> marked his most productive month yet, as he averaged 12.3 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. His impact was on full display in the Pistons\u2019 132-130 loss over the Atlanta Hawks, where he contributed with 18 points and nine rebounds. Duren’s emergence helped the Pistons secure their first winning month<\/a> since March 2019, signaling their foundation is finally taking shape.<\/p>\n

The Bickerstaff Effect<\/h3>\n

Credit J.B. Bickerstaff<\/a> for sticking with Duren, even when it would have been easy to make a change. In just his first season with the Pistons, Bickerstaff\u2019s influence is already evident, bringing a level of trust and stability that this organization hasn\u2019t seen in years.<\/p>\n

Through the ups and downs, Bickerstaff has remained committed to his players\u2014and in return, they fight for him every night. Statistically, the Pistons don\u2019t dominate in any single category. In most areas, they sit near the middle of the pack<\/a>. But they succeed through effort, discipline, and playing the right way\u2014not just by the numbers.<\/p>\n

For Duren, this coaching approach has been exactly what he needed. Under Monty Williams, development often felt misguided, particularly for the team\u2019s young core. With Bickerstaff, it\u2019s a fresh start\u2014an opportunity to mold players from a blank canvas rather than forcing them into a rigid system. There are still bumps along the way, but the foundation is being built. And for Duren, that foundation is growing stronger with each passing game.<\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/h3>\n

Jalen Duren\u2019s growth this season is a testament to patience, perseverance, and the right coaching environment. While his early struggles raised questions about his long-term fit, his recent performances have provided a compelling answer\u2014he\u2019s a key piece of this young Pistons core. With increased confidence, improved discipline, and the trust of J.B. Bickerstaff, Duren is beginning to unlock his full potential.<\/p>\n

The Pistons\u2019 rebuild is still a work in progress, and while the playoffs may remain an uphill battle, their recent surge suggests they are closer than their record may indicate. The team may not be a dominant force yet, but they are laying the foundation for future success. And with Duren continuing to elevate his game, the vision for this Pistons team is becoming clearer with each passing night.<\/p>\n

Photo credit: \u00a9 Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Pistons\u2019 resurgence this season has been driven by their young core\u2014a group determined to prove themselves after last year\u2019s struggles. Written off following a disappointing campaign, they\u2019ve entered the 2024-25 season on a mission to show they can develop into something special. Cade Cunningham\u2019s leap into All-Star status has been well-documented. Jaden Ivey […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5168,"featured_media":121870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,1608,62],"tags":[3965,2380,3109,4432],"class_list":["post-121040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pistons","category-basketball","category-nba","tag-cade-cunningham","tag-isaiah-stewart","tag-j-b-bickerstaff","tag-jalen-duren"],"modified_by":"Kenny Kluska","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121040","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121040"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121040\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":121871,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121040\/revisions\/121871"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}