Jalen Duren

On both the NBA’s hardwood, and on the gridiron where lions play, rewriting Detroit’s sports history in the 21st century has often involved two components: an all-seeing “quarterback” of the offense, and a big-bodied force of nature, capable of catching anything airborne. Helping put the Detroit Pistons’ up-and-coming version on display, Jalen Duren revives a somewhat-sloppy possession, “slipping” a ball screen while staying within view of his All-Star floor general at once. Flawless in matching the energy of his teammate’s over-the-shoulder lob, Duren uses an acrobat-like leap to position himself for a rim-shaking alley-oop flush, extending the Pistons’ late-game lead in the process. Adorned already in blue, red, and white colors, Detroit put forth their best “Lob City” impression, locating the highflying Duren on three different occasions during February 21, 2025’s blowout win. Multifaceted enough to mix the aforementioned jams with other buckets at the San Antonio Spurs’ expense, Duren recorded a 21-point, 15-rebound double-double, alongside five assists, one steal, and one block on elite efficiency (10-of-14 shooting).