Detroit’s Duren boosts free-agency stock; LeVert, Thompson and Stewart headline early notes
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November 3, 2025 — Detroit center Jalen Duren is headed for restricted free agency after failing to reach a rookie-scale extension before last month’s deadline. The third-year big man has quickly strengthened his bargaining position, averaging 17.8 points and 10.0 rebounds and erupting for a career-high 33 points on 13-of-16 shooting in Saturday’s win over Dallas in Mexico City. He also grabbed 10 boards, delivered two assists and blocked a shot.
“He’s such a beast. He makes me look good,” guard Cade Cunningham said after the game. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff added that Duren “dominated the interior” by running the floor, crashing the offensive glass and consistently pressuring the rim.
LeVert easing back after hamstring issue
Caris LeVert, who signed a two-year deal in July, missed most of the preseason with a hamstring strain and has appeared in three of Detroit’s first six contests. The veteran swingman is averaging 5.7 points in 18.3 minutes, but Bickerstaff said LeVert’s adaptability will help reduce the coaching staff’s workload. “He can fit anywhere we decide to put him, and he doesn’t take away from others’ growth,” the coach noted.
Thompson reflects on healthy offseason
Second-year forward Ausar Thompson wrote in a post for The Players’ Tribune that blood-clot issues limited his rookie season and last summer, but he entered the current campaign with no restrictions. “It was my first full healthy offseason, so I put in a lot of work,” Thompson said, adding that he focused on maintaining an aggressive mentality every night.
Stewart anchors league-leading rim protection
Detroit carried a 4-2 record into Monday’s matchup in Memphis, buoyed by elite rim protection. The Pistons top the NBA at 7.0 blocks per game, and forward-center Isaiah Stewart is tied for fourth in total blocks with 12. According to team data, Stewart ranks sixth in contested two-point attempts (47) and holds opponents to 41.7 percent shooting at the rim, the league’s second-best mark.
Source: Hoops Rumors
