Charles Barkley mercilessly eviscerates Pistons center Jalen Duren’s game

Jalen Duren’s stock is dropping off with each passing playoff game he suits up in for the Detroit Pistons. On Thursday night, Duren found himself in head coach JB Bickerstaff’s doghouse yet again after his substandard performance left him as the second or even third choice to Paul Reed and Isaiah Stewart in the Pistons’ 117-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of their semifinal clash to fall down 3-2 in the series.

Duren put up just nine points, five rebounds, and four assists in 25 minutes of play, and as a result, he was benched by Bickerstaff for the entirety of the fourth quarter and overtime. The Pistons relied on Reed towards the end of the game, which is more telling of how poor Duren’s effort and production were more than how well Reed actually played.

The 22-year-old center hasn’t been very good in the playoffs to begin with, as he entered Game 5 vs. the Cavs averaging just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game through 11 playoff games. He played so poorly in Games 4 and 5 that Charles Barkley’s criticisms of him prior to the start of their contest on Wednesday have to be ringing in Duren’s ear.

“His whole game is offensive rebounds and lob dunks from Cade… He should never have two rebounds, ever. That’s two more than a dead person,” Barkley said, via NBA Courtside on X (formerly Twitter).