Who Would You Rather Have: Jalen Duren Or Alperen Sengun?

[chilluminati]

This conversation got a whole lot more interesting so far this season. At this point Sengun is better, but in the question of "who I'd rather have", it would depend on the team. If I need a #1 option and playmaker, I'm taking Sengun. If I need rebounding, crashing, and consistent offense I'm taking Duren. I would not take Duren as a centerpiece on a team, but if I'm building around a guard I want Duren for the lob threat and defensive edge.

They both fit and thrive in their current situations as their teams cover each ones individual weaknesses.

[tmorgan]

Duren has made some of the defensive improvements we were hoping for, and has also blossomed further on offense, flashing a face up game and a jumper. He’s also just huge and physically dominating a lot of front courts this year.

I’d still take Sengun, I’m not stupid, but JD has closed the gap quite a bit.

[Mavrelous]

Presti had the pick when Sengun dropped and decided to trade it away, but he is forgiven because he built the best roster possible.
Hornets, had nowhere to go, and had the picks for both Duren and Williams, and decided they had too many young players and traded it away for what was Nick Smith Jr a year later (I think?), who is on a 2 way right now with the Lakers, good stuff Hornets!

[Sane]

This conversation got a whole lot more interesting so far this season. At this point Sengun is better, but in the question of "who I'd rather have", it would depend on the team. If I need a #1 option and playmaker, I'm taking Sengun. If I need rebounding, crashing, and consistent offense I'm taking Duren. I would not take Duren as a centerpiece on a team, but if I'm building around a guard I want Duren for the lob threat and defensive edge.

They both fit and thrive in their current situations as their teams cover each ones individual weaknesses.

When you talk about building blocks you have to talk about wins too.

Sengun is the Cade Cunningham of his team. He carried the heaviest load for a 52-win 2nd seed in the West last season (and will probably do better than that this season). If Cade Cunningham achieved what Sengun did LAST season, it would be the best season of his career. Duren is not in that conversation. Even as a secondary (i.e. complimentary player) to Durant at times, Sengun has thrived so I'm not sure you'd pick Duren over Sengun for any other reason than you have everything else in the bag and you only need rim protection. That's about it.

Duren needs more time to get there. Not a fair comparison at the moment.

[bstein14]

Happy Birthday to Jalen Duren, who turned 22 today.

His work as a 4th year 21 year old to start the season was certainly impressive including a 12-2 first place record for Detroit.

20.3 PPG
67.4 FG% (now shooting some mid range jumpers as well)
12.2 RPG
1.8 APG
1.0 SPG
1.1 BPG
28.9 MPG

NBA PER Leaders
1. Jokic 40.13
2. Giannis 35.97
3. SGA 34.15
4. Luka 29.38
5. Jalen Duren 29.20

Win Share Per 48 Minutes
1. Jokic .441
2. SGA .375
3. Duren .288
4. Giannis .281
5. Jimmy Butler .259

[MoneyTalks41890]

This conversation got a whole lot more interesting so far this season. At this point Sengun is better, but in the question of "who I'd rather have", it would depend on the team. If I need a #1 option and playmaker, I'm taking Sengun. If I need rebounding, crashing, and consistent offense I'm taking Duren. I would not take Duren as a centerpiece on a team, but if I'm building around a guard I want Duren for the lob threat and defensive edge.

They both fit and thrive in their current situations as their teams cover each ones individual weaknesses.

When you talk about building blocks you have to talk about wins too.

Sengun is the Cade Cunningham of his team. He carried the heaviest load for a 52-win 2nd seed in the West last season (and will probably do better than that this season). If Cade Cunningham achieved what Sengun did LAST season, it would be the best season of his career. Duren is not in that conversation. Even as a secondary (i.e. complimentary player) to Durant at times, Sengun has thrived so I'm not sure you'd pick Duren over Sengun for any other reason than you have everything else in the bag and you only need rim protection. That's about it.

Duren needs more time to get there. Not a fair comparison at the moment.

Cade is a much better two way player than Sengun.

Sengun had a better supporting cast and coach last year, that Detroit roster was a dumpster fire.

[TravisScott55]

Duren

[bbms]

weakest dump of all time, sengun is a lot better than duren

[Jadoogar]

Happy Birthday to Jalen Duren, who turned 22 today.

His work as a 4th year 21 year old to start the season was certainly impressive including a 12-2 first place record for Detroit.

20.3 PPG
67.4 FG% (now shooting some mid range jumpers as well)
12.2 RPG
1.8 APG
1.0 SPG
1.1 BPG
28.9 MPG

NBA PER Leaders
1. Jokic 40.13
2. Giannis 35.97
3. SGA 34.15
4. Luka 29.38
5. Jalen Duren 29.20

Win Share Per 48 Minutes
1. Jokic .441
2. SGA .375
3. Duren .288
4. Giannis .281
5. Jimmy Butler .259

Side note, wtf Jokic???

[RipHamilton]

Duren is a physical beast. He has great moves, immense strength, and is a great finisher who can handle himself 1-on-1. He is a really solid, very young player who will have a long NBA career. I think he’ll be a great second option for many teams.

Sengun is on a higher level, in my opinion. Or, at least, his limit is higher. He has the potential to be the number one option on a team. He is technically much more skilled; he can pass, create, finish, and score in isolation with a deeper bag of moves than Duren.

I clearly pick Sengun. Duren projects to be a solid 7 - 8.5/10 player, whereas Sengun can reach the 9/10 tier.

Duren is an all star caliber player. Sengun will be an MVP top 10 player, imo.

Anyway, both of them will have an extraordinary career.

[RipHamilton]

Sengun and Sabonis are like nerfed versions of Joker. High IQ, good handle and playmaking, good rebounding. Maybe this will be the new model for the league, its always one team leading with a revolutionary new type of player and then many follow. Just think of the 2000's revolution that came with Steph - and a million guards who tried to copy him.

Nah, don't put Sengun and Sabonis on the same level.

Sengun is already a better player than Sabonis—and keep in mind, Sabonis is 29 while Sengun is only 23.

If you just watch highlights, they might look similar, but they aren't. Sengun is technically superior; he makes better decisions, dominates 1-on-1, and elevates his teammates.

Sabonis is an amazing rebounder and a good finisher, but he is much more one-dimensional compared to Sengun.

And of course, everyone looks nerfed compared with Joker. But I have never watched Sabonis and thought about Jokic. With Sengun, I do it.

[HumbleRen]

Duren.

I just don't trust a team with Sengun at the 5. His talent is fascinating but I think there's a hard cap on any team that he's on, similar to Sabonis.

I would like to issue an apology to Sengun. He’s much better than Sabonis. He’s still too inefficient for a center for my taste though but he’s been a stud. I never pictured him playing with KD when I made that post.

Still comfortable with my choice though, Duren is a superhuman haha.

[schnakenpopanz]

Sengün on his way to crack the top 15 for the sason. Duren going for Top 30. So this is more like a 1A, 1B choice.
I will give Sengün the edge, because it is so hard to find a center who can facilitate these days.

[Sane]

This conversation got a whole lot more interesting so far this season. At this point Sengun is better, but in the question of "who I'd rather have", it would depend on the team. If I need a #1 option and playmaker, I'm taking Sengun. If I need rebounding, crashing, and consistent offense I'm taking Duren. I would not take Duren as a centerpiece on a team, but if I'm building around a guard I want Duren for the lob threat and defensive edge.

They both fit and thrive in their current situations as their teams cover each ones individual weaknesses.

When you talk about building blocks you have to talk about wins too.

Sengun is the Cade Cunningham of his team. He carried the heaviest load for a 52-win 2nd seed in the West last season (and will probably do better than that this season). If Cade Cunningham achieved what Sengun did LAST season, it would be the best season of his career. Duren is not in that conversation. Even as a secondary (i.e. complimentary player) to Durant at times, Sengun has thrived so I'm not sure you'd pick Duren over Sengun for any other reason than you have everything else in the bag and you only need rim protection. That's about it.

Duren needs more time to get there. Not a fair comparison at the moment.

Cade is a much better two way player than Sengun.

Sengun had a better supporting cast and coach last year, that Detroit roster was a dumpster fire.

Totally disagree but that's irrelevant. The point is Sengun is his team's Cade. He is the offensive hub that carries everything. He's also (for over 2 years now) the starting C and rim protector of a western contender top 10 in defense. Duren is not in that conversation.

[HumbleRen]

When you talk about building blocks you have to talk about wins too.

Sengun is the Cade Cunningham of his team. He carried the heaviest load for a 52-win 2nd seed in the West last season (and will probably do better than that this season). If Cade Cunningham achieved what Sengun did LAST season, it would be the best season of his career. Duren is not in that conversation. Even as a secondary (i.e. complimentary player) to Durant at times, Sengun has thrived so I'm not sure you'd pick Duren over Sengun for any other reason than you have everything else in the bag and you only need rim protection. That's about it.

Duren needs more time to get there. Not a fair comparison at the moment.

Cade is a much better two way player than Sengun.

Sengun had a better supporting cast and coach last year, that Detroit roster was a dumpster fire.

Totally disagree but that's irrelevant. The point is Sengun is his team's Cade. He is the offensive hub that carries everything. He's also (for over 2 years now) the starting C and rim protector of a western contender top 10 in defense. Duren is not in that conversation.

Subjective. Pistons are good because of their defensive identity, not because of Cade’s offence. He’s one of the least efficient players in the league with volume and their offence is mid at best. I don’t want to discredit Cade but I think people put way too much credit on Cade. They’re great because they’re a top 5 defence and Duren plays a big role in that, that can’t get lost in this.

[GAthens34]

weakest dump of all time, sengun is a lot better than duren

No, he's not a lot better. The question is legit.

[MrBigShot]

As good as Sengun looks right now, I can't objectively say Duren is better in good faith, but he's not too far off with the huge step forward he's taken this year.

[DelAbbot]

Duren.

I just don't trust a team with Sengun at the 5. His talent is fascinating but I think there's a hard cap on any team that he's on, similar to Sabonis.

I would like to issue an apology to Sengun. He’s much better than Sabonis. He’s still too inefficient for a center for my taste though but he’s been a stud. I never pictured him playing with KD when I made that post.

Still comfortable with my choice though, Duren is a superhuman haha.

I still don't see a team with Sengun at the 5 wins a championship. Has a prototype (not-Jokic) such as Sengun ever manned the 5 for a championship team?

[Bucks4005]

Duren.

I just don't trust a team with Sengun at the 5. His talent is fascinating but I think there's a hard cap on any team that he's on, similar to Sabonis.

I would like to issue an apology to Sengun. He’s much better than Sabonis. He’s still too inefficient for a center for my taste though but he’s been a stud. I never pictured him playing with KD when I made that post.

Still comfortable with my choice though, Duren is a superhuman haha.

I still don't see a team with Sengun at the 5 wins a championship. Has a prototype (not-Jokic) such as Sengun ever manned the 5 for a championship team?

Pau Gasol? Don’t really remember him as I was too young, but wasn’t he a high octane passing big man for his time before they evolved ala Jokic? And not like he was a star defender, if anything, at the 4, there would have been a host of other issues. But the Rockets kinda do the same thing with Adams getting minutes next to Sengun, right?


But yea, Gasol was basically a 5 in the non Bynum minutes right? Especially when he played with Lamar Odom? And Bynum missed plenty of time, not exactly the picture of health, was he?

[DelAbbot]

I would like to issue an apology to Sengun. He’s much better than Sabonis. He’s still too inefficient for a center for my taste though but he’s been a stud. I never pictured him playing with KD when I made that post.

Still comfortable with my choice though, Duren is a superhuman haha.

I still don't see a team with Sengun at the 5 wins a championship. Has a prototype (not-Jokic) such as Sengun ever manned the 5 for a championship team?

Pau Gasol? Don’t really remember him as I was too young, but wasn’t he a high octane passing big man for his time before they evolved ala Jokic? And not like he was a star defender, if anything, at the 4, there would have been a host of other issues. But the Rockets kinda do the same thing with Adams getting minutes next to Sengun, right?


But yea, Gasol was basically a 5 in the non Bynum minutes right? Especially when he played with Lamar Odom? And Bynum missed plenty of time, not exactly the picture of health, was he?

I don't agree Pau Gasol is the same prototype as Sengun/Sabonis. Gasol had the length and frame as a real C / 7-footer with strong defensive presence / interior-deterrence - he has career 1.7 blk per36. Whereas Sengun and Sabonis prototype are the short wingspan/non-athletic that doesn't have much interior-deterrence: Sengun at 1.1 blk per36.