Jalen Duren Shares Long Term Career Plans at Pistons Media Day

Duren Makes Statement on Future in Detroit

Duren did not hesitate to share his opinion on the city of Detroit and his fit in the area.

Duren was drafted as an 18-year-old and is set to turn 22 later this year.

"(Detroit has become like home," Duren said. "Plan to spend my whole career here...I want to give everything I have to this city to show them I love them back.

"The fans, the city, everybody has I feel like has embraced me...I'm a guy who kinda likes to move around, so, everywhere I went in the city over these last couple of years, it's always been love, it's always been love and I want to reciprocate that."

Duren Moving Up in NBA Rankings?

Duren's gutty playoff performance against Karl Anthony-Towns, Mitchell Robinson and the Knicks during last year's playoffs without his running mate Stewart has raised his profile among NBA centers going into his fourth career season in Motown.

Duren is tough, well built and can jump out of the gym when the mood strikes.

This season, he will have a chance to team up with Stewart again, in addition to guard Jaden Ivey, who is healthy and looking to turn up the heat as a key cog on the Pistons' fast break.

The Pistons will likely be without shooting guard Malik Beasley this season and won't have the services of sparkplug Dennis Schroder, who now plays for the Sacramento Kings.

Detroit's roster got a facelift this offseason and now comes the 'Goin' to Work' phase with Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff and his coaching staff working feverishly behind the scenes to make the Pistons' puzzle pieces fit.

Detroit has a shot to come out of the Eastern Conference this season, and Duren is a big part of their NBA Finals hopes.

The Pistons must take this season one day at a time to maximize their potential, and the maturity of Duren, superstar Cade Cunningham and the rest of the Pistons could be their X-factor with the regular season less than 30 days away.