One of the youngest teams in the NBA won its season-opener thanks to the league's youngest player: Jalen Duren of the Pistons.
"18 years old," said Pistons owner Tom Gores, watching his team's 103-99 win over the Magic courtside Wednesday night. "He didn't seem fazed, did he?"
No he did not. Nor did his teammates after shaking off some Opening Night jitters. Duren "was a force," said fellow lottery pick Jaden Ivey. With 14 points and 10 boards, he became the second youngest player in NBA history to post a double-double in his debut. Only Dwight Howard was younger, by four days, when he did the same in 2004. Superman turned out alright.
"Duren was a monster," said Pistons coach Dwane Casey, "rebounding and protecting the rim."
And attacking it at the other. The breadth of Duren's talent was captured in a first-half flash when he threw down a grown-man dunk in transition that electrified LCA and rejected a layup by first overall pick Paolo Banchero on the ensuing possession. It was one of Duren's game-high three blocks.
He called the dunk his "I'm here moment."
"Did you see it?" said Gores. "I hope it got everyone out of their seats."
On Detroit's bench, Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey leapt to their feet. They howled and flexed at Duren, who did the same in return. They glared at each other wide-eyed, as if realizing their own potential right there in that moment. It woke up the crowd and woke up the Pistons, who turned a double-digit deficit into a halftime lead. It felt like a core coming together.
GM Troy Weaver had to be smiling. This is exactly why he swung a trade to draft Duren 13th overall, because his athleticism is impossible to ignore, because his ceiling is too high for most players to touch. It was a move that took the NBA by surprise and supercharged the Pistons' rebuild on a night they also drafted Ivey fifth overall.
"Look at how we got Duren," said Gores. "Nobody was paying attention that much and here we have an 18-year-old that's already developing in the first game. Troy knows what he's doing."
Ivey scored 19 points of his own Wednesday night, flashing his quickness and speed to get to the bucket. He has an explosive first step and the makings of one of the most dynamic transition players in the NBA. The Pistons have the makings, in time, of one of the best backcourts. Ivey, three years younger than the No. 23 on his chest, will also break you down one-on-one.
"First of all, what a heart," said Gores. "And how fast is he? I mean, who's faster than Ivey? We're very lucky to have gotten him."
It's one game, against a fellow rebuilding team. It doesn't change the scope of the Pistons season. It does offer a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come. Cunningham, Stewart and Bey combined for 40 points themselves, with Cade throwing in 10 assists for good measure.
Duren is here. The Pistons are coming.
"This team has their own expectations," said Gores. "They expect to be great. It doesn't matter what I think, they want greatness and I feel it from this team. It is the makings of something special."
