Jalen Duren reveals how extension talks broke down with the Detroit Pistons

Jalen Duren is playing like one of the best centers in the league this season. It has been a huge breakout year for him, which is a direct result of his self-belief.  Duren and the Detroit Pistons could not agree to a contract extension in the 2025 offseason, so he is now playing his heart out to prove himself.

Now, there is no doubt that Duren deserves a massive contract from the Pistons for how he is playing. He and Cade Cunningham appear to be the duo of the future, as they are a legitimate one-two punch as a center and point guard, respectively.

Duren understands his worth as a basketball player

Duren was up for an extension during the summer of 2025, but it looks like he and the Pistons could not agree to a deal. It likely fueled Duren because he wants to have a big contract that he believes he is worthy of getting.

This season, he has broken out into stardom as the Pistons' second-best player behind Cunningham. Duren is averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds, and a block per game. He is also extremely efficient with his offense, shooting at a 62.9% clip from the field.

More: Three Pistons players land on ESPN's list of best NBA players under 25 years old

With no assurance of a long-term contract on the table, Duren made sure that he would impress this season. Now, he is one of the league's most productive centers with his numbers. He is also a huge reason why the Pistons are so successful this season. 

Duren understands his worth in the extension talks, so his performances show that he wants more. 

"Going into it, I didn’t want to know too much at first—but I did want feedback. I wanted to understand what the team was thinking, where they wanted to see me evolve and excel, and how they wanted me to develop," Duren said on The Zach Lowe Show.

"I wasn’t upset. It was just more of just, I understood my worth. I do think the team probably didn’t understand my worth too. We just weren’t able to come to an agreement at that specific time.”

Moving forward, Duren has earned a huge contract, possibly a maximum extension. The Pistons would love to have Cunningham and Duren as their duo of the future, and with their roster construction, they have a good supporting cast around them as well.