Jalen Duren, $200 million and a promise: “A Piston for life”
From the Qualifying Offer to a $200 million contract, all the way to a promise to the fans: Jalen Duren wants to wear a Pistons jersey for his entire career
From tension over his extension to a declaration of love for Detroit. Jalen Duren spoke for the first time after signing his new five-year, $200 million contract and, at least as far as he is concerned, this may not be the last deal of his career with the Pistons.
I’m a Detroit Pistons’ player and I want to be one for life
Jalen Duren
Negotiations dragged on much longer than expected. Duren had skipped Media Day and the first practices of training camp, and things reached the point where there was a real possibility that he would accept the $9.6 million Qualifying Offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
In the end, Detroit’s offer won out: five years, $200 million fully guaranteed. And Duren did not hide how happy he is to have put everything behind him.
This process lasted a lot longer than all of us would have liked. I’m happy, really excited to be back. I missed my teammates, the coaches. I’m just happy to be back here with everybody
Jalen Duren
Even the more difficult moments of the negotiations, however, seem to have taught him something. The Pistons big man explained that above all, he learned to better understand that side of the NBA that usually stays far away from the court.
I grew mostly mentally, understanding all the mechanics better. I think I needed this experience to better understand this game and the business side of it. I never saw it as something negative
Jalen Duren
The new contract comes after the best Regular Season of Duren’s career, which he finished averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 65% from the field. In the Playoffs, however, his production dropped to 10.5 points and 8.5 rebounds, with Detroit eliminated by Cleveland in Game 7 of the Conference Semifinals.
And Duren did not make many excuses for that.
It was a good lesson in humility. I just have to get better. I’m man enough to recognize my flaws and admit that I’m not perfect. And I’m also man enough to get my ass in the gym and work on those things
Jalen Duren
Those are very different words from the ones surrounding the negotiations just a few days ago. The extension is done, the $200 million is there, and now Duren wants to close the chapter for good.
His final message to Detroit fans, in fact, leaves very little room for interpretation:
I want to be a Piston for life. I want to give everything I have to this city and the fans. From me, you’ll get everything I have, everything I can give
Jalen Duren
After a summer in which even his future in Detroit had become a question mark, Duren is looking much further ahead than the next five years: if it were up to him, the Pistons jersey would also be the last one of his career.