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By Jayesh Pagar
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The Detroit Pistons shared a hopeful sign on Jalen Duren on Sunday. Their All-Star center has been cleared for on-court work as he recovers from a right hamstring strain.
But the same update said his next check-up is still two weeks away. For a fanbase that waited all summer for Duren to sign, the wait for his return is starting to feel long.
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Then head coach J.B. Bickerstaff spoke to reporters, and he made it clear Detroit is in no hurry. The Athletic’s Pistons reporter Hunter Patterson shared the comments on X.
“It’s a slow process because it’s one of those things you don’t want to push too far… We’re not going to rush him. We’re going to take our time and make sure we’re doing things right so when he comes back, he’s back for good,” Bickerstaff said.
“Slow process” is not what fans wanted to hear two weeks in. It also means there is no set return date, even with Duren back on the floor for drills.
He got hurt on Oct. 23 against the Miami Heat and has missed six straight games. If the new timeline holds, his next check comes around Nov. 22 at Atlanta.
The timing stings. Duren agreed to a five-year, $200 million deal on Oct. 1 after a long contract standoff. He has played just two games since, averaging 13 points and 7.5 rebounds.
Last season, he made the All-Star team and the All-NBA Third Team, putting up 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a night for a 60-win team.
Detroit has held up at 4-2 without him, with Paul Reed starting at center. Still, the Pistons rank 28th in offensive rebounding percentage in that stretch.
The schedule does not help either. Detroit plays six of its next nine games on the road, including trips to San Antonio and Atlanta. Bickerstaff, though, is clearly thinking about April, not November.
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