Signing a $200M Deal, "Baby Shaq" Duren Brushes Off Contract Drama: "I Want to Be a P

　　By Reporter Du Yijun / Comprehensive Report

　　After a summer churning with trade whispers and extension drama, Jalen Duren—the Detroit Pistons' future anchor in the paint—finally locked in a five-year, $200 million (about NT$64.6 billion) fully guaranteed max contract to stay in Motor City. In a recent interview, the 22-year-old opened up for the first time about the emotional roller coaster, shooting down false rumors and dropping a heartfelt line: “Detroit is my home. I want to finish my career here.”

　　Last season, Duren posted career highs—19.5 points and 10.5 boards per game on a blistering 65% shooting from the field—earning his first All-Star nod and a spot on the All-NBA Third Team. But the path to this deal wasn’t exactly smooth. At one point, negotiations hit a standstill, and Duren even skipped media day and early training camp activities, setting off a wildfire of speculation.

　　Talking about the noise, Duren shrugged. “There’s been so much chatter and misinformation around me this offseason. But for me, Detroit already feels like home. I’ve built real bonds here. I’m a Piston, and I want to play my whole career with this team.”

　　Beyond the loyalty pledge, he admitted the contract tug-of-war pushed him to grow mentally. It forced him, he said, to understand the business side of pro basketball on a deeper level.

　　“Mentally, I see the whole picture better now,” he explained. “I needed that experience to grasp how this game and the league operate. Honestly, I never saw it as a bad thing.”

　　Looking ahead, Duren showed a maturity beyond his years. “I believe everything happens for a reason. Every moment—good, bad, even ugly—has shaped me into who I need to become. Only by going through all that can I become the player I’m meant to be.”