IndiaAIFounders — Jalen Duren Warned About Jonathan Kuminga Path as 2026 All-Star’s Stint With Pistons Remains Uncertain

There are NBA players who said they were betting on themselves, only to eventually lose out. Will Jalen Duren suffer the same fate?

The 2026 All-Star and the Detroit Pistons remain at odds over their contract negotiations. The team said as early as March that it was determined to keep Duren.

The 2022 13th overall pick had a stellar fourth year as a pro. He made his first All-Star appearance in 2026, while his team finished as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Duren averaged a double-double of 19.5 points, a career high, and 10.3 rebounds during the regular season.

The biggest change in the negotiations reportedly stems from his playoff performance. The quality of his game dipped, while the top-seeded Pistons struggled heavily. They needed all seven games to get past the Orlando Magic in the first round.

They still advanced, but Duren’s play barely improved. The Pistons were beaten by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and the 22-year-old center finished the playoffs averaging significantly less than his regular-season numbers.

Duren posted 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in the postseason, both of which were also lower than his averages from the previous season.

The latest report on his contract situation says the Pistons remain adamant about keeping him. However, his contract demands are reportedly getting in the way.

Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff talks to center Jalen Duren (0) in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

“The one restricted free agency situation that remains unresolved is Jalen Duren, who the Pistons absolutely positively 100% intend to keep, and made it clear to anybody pursuing him in a sign-and-trade possibility like, you’re wasting your time,” insider Tim MacMahon said.

“We’ll get into that, I think, later. There’s still a gap.”

Danger of Jalen Duren betting on himself

The latest player to lose out after betting on himself is Jonathan Kuminga. That’s what some observers are thinking.

He recently signed a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves to position himself for a better contract in the future. He reportedly turned down a three-year, $36 million offer from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kuminga’s former teammate, Draymond Green, is not a fan of the move by the young forward. He believes Kuminga’s agent could have secured a better deal for him.

The Golden State Warriors forward is now warning Duren against taking a similar path.

Dec 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) talks with forward Jonathan Kuminga (right) during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

“That was one of the things about [Jonathan Kuminga],” Green said in his self-title podcast.

“They’re like, ‘Oh, we want to get him traded out of there.’ Like yeah, I understand things ain’t going great, but when you do that, you no longer have the covering of whoever’s in that organization that feels great that you got drafted there and want you to succeed. That’s gone. And so Jalen Duren has to be aware of that if you press that button.”