Afrigather It wasn’t that way back that the Philadelphia 76ers had been within the midst of The Course of. Sure, there was plenty of shedding concerned, however a number of positives got here out of it as properly. Gamers like Jerami Grant, Robert Covington and T.J. McConnell obtained the runway to grow to be official NBA gamers.
And, regardless of whiffing on a number of draft picks, the Sixers hit the jackpot in 2014 once they chosen perennial MVP candidate Joel Embiid third general.
There was one other NBA participant round throughout The Course of that remembers it fairly vividly — he simply wasn’t on the courtroom. Jalen Duren, the thirteenth general choose within the 2022 NBA Draft, usually discovered himself within the low-cost seats watching video games on the Wells Fargo Middle.
When the Detroit Pistons got here to Philly final week, it was a dream-like homecoming for the promising rookie.
“Man, it’s a surreal feeling proper now,” Duren mentioned pregame. “That is wonderful for me. I used to be simply speaking to the coaches, I keep in mind being up within the nosebleeds watching the sport so to be on the ground now it’s simply a tremendous feeling for me.”
And his coaches undoubtedly knew it was particular for Duren — principally due to the 40-50 tickets he wanted that evening.
“Properly, I hope so as a result of J.D. took everyone’s ticket so it higher imply one thing,” Pistons head coach Dwane Casey joked.
Duren remembers seeing the beginning of Embiid’s profession within the constructing the place he’d sq. off towards the two-time MVP runner-up. It wasn’t Duren’s — or the Pistons’ — greatest sport of the season, however the younger massive man had his moments towards the five-time All-Star.
And that’s in a season the place Duren’s age has regularly belied his play. The groundwork for Duren’s fast development was laid in a metropolis that loves its hoops.
“I mentioned [Memphis head coach] Penny Hardaway — and coaches right here in Philly — and [Memphis assistant and former Sixers head coach] Larry Brown, all these guys did an ideal job with him,” Casey mentioned, “so he was taking the correct steps of an NBA sport, NBA method, however nothing simulates being in it for actual. However he’s a fast learner, sensible, adapts to sure conditions, coachable — you may get on his behind and he responds in the correct manner. He’s gonna be nice for the Pistons group for a very long time.”
Duren starred at Philly Catholic League powerhouse Roman Catholic and in addition for Philly-based AAU squad Staff Remaining, which has produced quite a few NBA gamers.
Duren would switch to nationwide powerhouse Montverde in Florida for his junior and senior seasons. There he turned one of many high recruits within the nation. He finally spurned colleges like Kentucky and the chance to show professional for the G League Ignite to affix Hardaway and Brown with the Tigers. After main Memphis to the NCAA Event for the primary time since 2014 and successful AAC Freshman of the Yr, Duren declared for the NBA Draft, the place — after some confusion — he wound up a Piston.
However Duren nonetheless credit his Philly roots for molding him into the participant he’s developed into.
“The grit, the grind,” Duren mentioned. “Being at Roman and taking part in for Staff Remaining simply … basketball is big in Philly — everyone knows that. So, rising up getting that aggressive edge and taking part in towards all sorts of guys, guys who might have made it to this stage [but] simply didn’t make the correct choices. I really feel like rising up right here helped me quite a bit, helped me with my aggressive edge, helped me understanding the sport and simply being in contact with the sport from an early age.”
The early returns on the Pistons draft evening have been constructive. Explosive guard Jaden Ivey, chosen fifth general out of Purdue, has confirmed to be a vivid spot. Ivey and Duren, together with 2021 first general choose Cade Cunningham, might type arguably probably the most intriguing younger trio within the NBA.
However Detroit is 8-27 to start out the yr whereas Cunningham lately underwent season-ending shin surgical procedure. It’s going to take time for Cunningham (21), Ivey (20) and Duren (19) to seek out their footing within the NBA and make the Pistons related once more.
Whereas there are a number of areas of development for Duren, he’s taken benefit of each alternative he’s gotten thus far.
“There’s plenty of little nuances he’s nonetheless studying as a result of totally different nights are various things he’s obtained to do,” Casey mentioned. “He’s studying … he’s an ideal scholar — a sponge. However once more, there’s no magic wand to say the place he will get it in actual time and similar to all rookies there’s a studying curve however he’s proper on observe the place he needs to be.”
There’s one space of the sport the place Duren has already produced at an elite stage: rebounding.
He leads all rookies in rebounds per sport (8.2) and rebounding share (16.7, good for 14th in all the NBA). He’s additionally eighth within the league in offensive rebounding share (12.6).
Certain, Duren’s 6-foot-10, 250-pounds body and supreme athleticism assist, however there’s additionally an innate ability to rebounding that he clearly has.
“What’s gonna take time is his taking pictures, his free throws and all these issues,” Casey mentioned. “Defensive coverages, terminology — these issues will take time — however one factor I knew would translate could be his rebounding due to his measurement and physicality [and] his knack — he has a pure knack to rebound and that’s one thing you may’t educate.”
Forward of the matchup towards Embiid, Duren mentioned it’s the kind of problem he loves. Battling elite bigs like Nikola Jokic or Anthony Davis is one thing Duren needs to be taught from.
Whereas his sport doesn’t appear to line up along with his beginning certificates (he simply turned 19 again in November), neither does his perspective.
“Individuals will say I’m fairly uncooked and I have a look at that as an excellent factor as a result of I’ve room to develop in all elements,” Duren mentioned. “However the place I’m at now, I really feel like I’ve achieved much more than individuals would even anticipate. I really feel like all elements of my sport can develop. I really feel like we’re locked in on simply me turning into the most effective participant I can grow to be.”
Belief the method, Detroit. It looks as if the Metropolis of Brotherly Love produced an excellent one right here.
