DETROIT – Detroit Pistons first-time All-Star Jalen Duren has accepted an invitation to participate in the NBA slam dunk contest during All-Star Weekend inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
ESPN reported Tuesday, Feb. 3, that the 22-year-old center joined Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxon Hayes and San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant in the dunk contest on All-Star Saturday Night.
Duren was announced as a first-time NBA All-Star during the Pistons’ franchise-record 53-point victory over the Brooklyn Nets, 130-77.
With the announcement, Duren joins two-time All-Star Cade Cunningham, who was named a starter, and J.B. Bickerstaff, who was named head coach of the Eastern Conference for the game.
Like Duren, Bickerstaff will be a first-time participant in the All-Star game during the 75th edition of the festivities.
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Duren, who stands 6-foot-10 and weighs 268 pounds, is averaging 18 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.9 blocks per game this season.
He shoots 63% from the field in 28.3 minutes per game.
His 10.7 rebounds per game rank sixth in the NBA, while his 154 offensive rebounds rank fifth.
Duren is one of only two qualified players this season averaging at least 18 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game, alongside Victor Wembanyama.
The No. 13 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Duren has recorded at least 15 rebounds and 10 points in eight games, ranking second in the NBA behind Karl-Anthony Towns.
He is the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 3,000 points and 2,500 rebounds, trailing only Dwight Howard and Towns.
Duren is also the third-youngest to reach 850 offensive rebounds, joining former Pistons center Andre Drummond and Howard.
This season, Duren ranks fifth in the NBA with 22 point-rebound double-doubles and fourth with 110 dunks.
A native of Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, Duren ranks first in field goal percentage (.650), second in double-doubles (123), third in offensive rebounds (846), and fifth in total rebounds (2,525) all-time through a player’s first 245 games with the Pistons franchise.
On Nov. 17 against the Indiana Pacers, Duren became the first player since Howard in 2007 to post a 30-point, 15-rebound game while shooting 90% or better from the field.
Duren ranks second in the NBA this season with five games of 20-plus points and 15-plus rebounds, behind only Nikola Jokic.
He joins teammate Cunningham as the first pair of Pistons teammates named Eastern Conference All-Stars in the same season since Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, and Rasheed Wallace in 2008.
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The NBA’s head coaches voted on the 14 reserves for the 75th NBA All-Star Game.
The new format will feature two U.S. teams and one international team, each with eight players, competing in a three-game mini-tournament.
The NBA All-Star Game tips off Feb. 15 at 5 p.m., with All-Star Saturday night events, including the dunk contest, taking place on Valentine’s Day.
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