If the Detroit Pistons are going to take the next step toward contending in 2025-26, then Cade Cunningham needs Jalen Duren to make the leap. Duren has been knocking on the door of stardom since he first broke out in 2023-24 as an efficient double-double machine with an intriguing skill set.
After seeing his playing time slashed by 3.0 minutes per game in 2024-25, however, Duren needs to prove that he's the star the Pistons believe he can be.
Cunningham has secured his place among the top players in the Eastern Conference. In 2024-25, he averaged 26.