Detroit Pistons star center Jalen Duren has been out since Oct. 23 with a hamstring injury, but the big man is nearing a return.
Duren strained his right hamstring in the second game of the season and hasn't played since. Still, the Pistons have been successful in the early part of the season, winning eight of their first 11 games. The defense that made them so good last year is still there, while Cade Cunningham is putting together another terrific offensive season.
Getting Duren back, however, would give them more skill, athleticism and size in the front court. Last year, the 23-year-old averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, getting rewarded with a 5-year, $200 million fully guaranteed extension in the offseason.
In the first game of the year against the Boston Celtics, he put up 22 and 9 - leading Detroit to a big first win of the season.
When Could Jalen Duren Return?
On Nov. 8, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic reported that Duren had begun to resume on-court activities - a great sign that he could be back on the court rather soon.
Patterson on the same day also reported that Duren will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Take a look at the Pistons schedule around that time below:
Nov. 22 | @ Atlanta Hawks |
Nov. 24 | @ Orlando Magic |
Nov. 27 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks |
Nov. 29 | vs. Orlando Magic |
Nov. 30 | vs. Denver Nuggets |
A return around Thanksgiving would make sense for a return. A three-game homestand at the end of November would be an ideal time to bring him back into the lineup.
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