Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren has finalized a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed contract extension, closing a negotiation that stretched roughly four months.
The 22-year-old did not play in Monday's preseason opener against the Phoenix Suns as the team manages his conditioning.
Duren had been eligible for a five-year max deal worth up to $287 million under the Derrick Rose Rule after earning All-NBA Third Team and All-Star honors last season.
Detroit's initial offer of $195 million led to a standstill, during which Duren missed media day and the start of training camp while exploring potential sign-and-trade options.
Production and Playoff Dip
Duren posted career highs of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds across 70 games last season, helping Detroit reach the Eastern Conference semifinals.
His postseason output fell to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over 14 contests, a drop that contributed to the team's hesitation over a full maximum contract.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday for the first time since signing, Duren described his feelings as "relief and excitement."
"I am excited to be back," Duren said. "This is where it all started for me.
This is all I know about my career and playing professional basketball ... I am a Detroit Piston.
I want to be a Detroit Piston for life."
He dismissed outside reporting of friction between his camp and the front office during free agency.
"Nothing came from me. Everything that was being heard was speculation," Duren said.
"I believe a lot of what was said was false. People believed a lot of things without it coming from the horse's mouth.
There is nothing much you could do about it."
Duren said the team's postseason exit became a personal turning point for his development.
"I never looked at this as a bad thing," he said.
"For me, I took this time to grow mentally, and I feel like I came out a better person.
A better man, and a better player."
He took responsibility for his playoff performance drop.
"It was a humbling experience. It proved that I just needed to get better," Duren said.
"I needed to get better for my teammates and the organization. I had to look in the mirror and say, 'I do need to get better.'
I've accomplished a lot, but I am man enough to acknowledge my flaws. I know I've made things better for the future."
Duren said he focused on expanding his skill set during offseason training.
"I'm man enough to acknowledge my flaws and that I'm not perfect.
I'm also man enough to get my ass in the gym and work on those things and get better," he said.
"I'm not trying to run from anything. I'm not running from what happened because I know I will make things better in the future."
He described his effort to add offensive versatility alongside teammate Cade Cunningham.
"I would say just creating my own shot," Duren said.
"I try to put myself in a position to be versatile and be able to be used in different ways, so you never have to put me in a box.
I try to be a tool that my coaches and my teammates can use to do anything."
Pistons head coach J. B.
Bickerstaff outlined the organization's plan to integrate Duren before the regular season begins.
"We're going to take our time," Bickerstaff said.
"We've got a plan organizationally from the front office, coaches, performance, medical staff, we've put a plan in place to ramp him up so by Oct.
20, the first game, he's ready to go and ready to go full speed.
We're going to take our time and be patient with him but the expectation is he came in in great shape, so we just want to continue to build on that and get our hands on him a little bit."
The Pistons open their regular season against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 20 following a four-game preseason schedule.
