Jalen Duren has become one of the defining forces in Detroit’s frontcourt, and he says the edge he shares with Isaiah Stewart is built on more than bruising play in the paint. The Pistons duo brings an old-school physical style that stands out in a league full of versatile big men, and Duren believes that trust off the court helps make them so difficult to handle on it.
Detroit’s front line looks different from many of the modern NBA’s elite big-man pairings. While players such as Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Alperen Sengun and Bam Adebayo are often praised for their skill and range, Duren and Stewart lean into contact, toughness and rim pressure in a way that recalls past eras of the league.
A frontcourt built on toughness
The Pistons have found value in a duo that is willing to absorb contact and return it. Duren and Stewart do not shy away from the physical side of the game, and that identity has helped shape Detroit’s interior presence.
That style has also made them a problem for opponents. Kendrick Perkins, who spent his NBA career as an enforcer in the paint, said teams do not want to deal with both players at once and noted that they “want all the smoke,” pointing to the culture built around Detroit’s physicality.
Why Duren values Stewart so much
The bond between the two was visible in a heated game against the Charlotte Hornets, when tensions escalated after Duren came under pressure from Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges. Stewart stepped into the situation without hesitation, an act that Duren said reflected the kind of teammate Stewart is.
“That’s my brother, man. That’s my brother,” Duren said, while calling Stewart “probably one of the best teammates I ever had.” He later explained that the connection goes beyond on-court moments and comes from spending time together off the court, talking about basketball and life.
Duren described Stewart as someone who is dependable in every setting and someone teammates can lean on. “He my guy dog,” Duren said, adding that Stewart is “a guy you could talk to” and “always going to be there for you.”
Why opponents notice the pairing
The Pistons’ physical edge does not come from intimidation alone. It also comes from consistency, with both big men embracing the same hard-nosed approach that makes Detroit difficult to match up against inside.
Perkins said that physical identity has become real inside the Pistons’ locker room, and he credited the team’s coaching approach for getting the frontcourt playing at a high level. That combination of toughness and organized buy-in has helped turn Duren and Stewart into a duo other teams have to prepare for carefully.
As Detroit continues its playoff push against the Orlando Magic, Duren and Stewart are expected to remain central to the team’s interior battle. Their value comes from more than rebounds, blocks or rim protection, because their partnership gives the Pistons a frontcourt presence that opponents can feel every possession.
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