Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren is going to make the most of his first trip to the NBA All-Star Game.
After being [selected as a reserve on Sunday](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2026/02/its-hard-not-to-smile-jalen-duren-soaks-in-all-star-bid-after-historic-pistons-win.html), seeing him join Cade Cunningham and coach J.B. Bickerstaff out in Los Angeles, Duren has reportedly accepted an invitation to take part in the NBA Slam Dunk contest.
The 22-year-old becomes the first Pistons player to take part in the Dunk Contest since Andre Drummond in 2016. He’ll be the fourth Detroit player overall to participate, following Jerry Stackhouse in 2000 and Allan Houston in 1994.
Duren is joining Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant as the first three players in the contest field. The Dunk Contest is scheduled for Feb. 14, the night before the All-Star game, which features a new three-team format.
In a career season where Duren is posting 18 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for the East-leading Pistons, it’s easy to see why he would be a prime candidate to join the Dunk Contest.
He’s a regular down in the paint with elite athleticism who loves to go up for a dunk. Duren is also Cunningham’s top target for lobs, which he emphatically delivers on time and again.
Duren taking part is also a marked change from recent years where selected All-Stars haven’t been participants in the Dunk Contest. In the last seven Dunk Contests, the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown in 2024 was the only All-Star to also participate in the event.
A victory in the Dunk Contest for Duren would mark the first for a Pistons player. Detroit players haven’t fared too well as Houston finished fourth out of six in his year, Stackhouse fifth and Drummond third.
The Dunk Contest has been won the last three years by guard Mac McClung, however he will not participate in the 2026 edition.