It wasn’t that way back that the Philadelphia 76ers have been within the midst of The Process. Yes, there was a number of shedding concerned, however a couple of positives got here out of it as properly. Players like Jerami Grant, Robert Covington and T.J. McConnell received the runway to turn out to be official NBA gamers.
And, regardless of whiffing on a couple of draft picks, the Sixers hit the jackpot in 2014 after they chosen perennial MVP candidate Joel Embiid third total.
There was one other NBA participant round throughout The Process that remembers it fairly vividly — he simply wasn’t on the court docket. Jalen Duren, the thirteenth total choose within the 2022 NBA Draft, typically discovered himself within the low cost seats watching video games on the Wells Fargo Center.
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 right now,” Duren stated pregame. “This is amazing for me. I was just talking to the coaches, I remember being up in the nosebleeds watching the game so to be on the floor now it’s just an amazing feeling for me.”
And his coaches undoubtedly knew it was particular for Duren — principally due to the 40-50 tickets he wanted that evening.
“Well, I hope so because J.D. took everybody’s ticket so it better mean something,” Pistons head coach Dwane Casey joked.
Duren remembers seeing the beginning of Embiid’s profession within the constructing the place he’d sq. off in opposition to the two-time MVP runner-up. It wasn’t Duren’s — or the Pistons’ — finest sport of the season, however the younger large man had his moments in opposition to the five-time All-Star.
And that’s in a season the place Duren’s age has continuously belied his play. The groundwork for Duren’s speedy development was laid in a metropolis that loves its hoops.
“I said [Memphis head coach] Penny Hardaway — and coaches here in Philly — and [Memphis assistant and former Sixers head coach] Larry Brown, all those guys did a great job with him,” Casey stated, “so he was taking the right steps of an NBA game, NBA approach, but nothing simulates being in it for real. But he’s a quick learner, smart, adapts to certain situations, coachable — you can get on his behind and he responds in the right way. He’s gonna be great for the Pistons organization for a long time.”
Duren starred at Philly Catholic League powerhouse Roman Catholic and in addition for Philly-based AAU squad Team Final, 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 prime recruits within the nation. He in the end 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 Tournament for the primary time since 2014 and profitable AAC Freshman of the Year, Duren declared for the NBA Draft, the place — after some confusion — he wound up a Piston.
But Duren nonetheless credit his Philly roots for molding him into the participant he’s developed into.
“The grit, the grind,” Duren stated. “Being at Roman and playing for Team Final just … basketball is huge in Philly — we all know that. So, growing up getting that competitive edge and playing against all types of guys, guys who could have made it to this level [but] just didn’t make the right decisions. I feel like growing up here helped me a lot, helped me with my competitive edge, helped me understanding the game and just being in touch with the game from an early age.”
The early returns on the Pistons draft evening have been optimistic. Explosive guard Jaden Ivey, chosen fifth total out of Purdue, has confirmed to be a shiny spot. Ivey and Duren, together with 2021 first total choose Cade Cunningham, may type arguably essentially the most intriguing younger trio within the NBA.
But Detroit is 8-27 to start out the yr whereas Cunningham just lately underwent season-ending shin surgical procedure. It’s going to take time for Cunningham (21), Ivey (20) and Duren (19) to search out their footing within the NBA and make the Pistons related once more.
While there are a number of areas of development for Duren, he’s taken benefit of each alternative he’s gotten thus far.
“There’s a lot of little nuances he’s still learning because different nights are different things he’s got to do,” Casey stated. “He’s learning … he’s a great student — a sponge. But again, there’s no magic wand to say where he gets it in real time and just like all rookies there’s a learning curve but he’s right on track where he should be.”
There is one space of the sport the place Duren has already produced at an elite degree: rebounding.
He leads all rookies in rebounds per sport (8.2) and rebounding share (16.7, good for 14th in your complete NBA). He’s additionally eighth within the league in offensive rebounding share (12.6).
Sure, 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 shooting, his free throws and all those things,” Casey stated. “Defensive coverages, terminology — those things will take time — but one thing I knew would translate would be his rebounding because of his size and physicality [and] his knack — he has a natural knack to rebound and that’s something you can’t teach.”
Ahead of the matchup in opposition to Embiid, Duren stated it’s the kind of problem he loves. Battling elite bigs like Nikola Jokic or Anthony Davis is one thing Duren needs to study from.
While his sport doesn’t appear to line up along with his beginning certificates (he simply turned 19 again in November), neither does his perspective.
“People will say I’m pretty raw and I look at that as a good thing because I have room to grow in all aspects,” Duren stated. “But where I’m at now, I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot more than people would even expect. I feel like all aspects of my game can grow. I feel like we’re locked in on just me becoming the best player I can become.”
Trust the method, Detroit. It looks as if the City of Brotherly Love produced one right here.