Who is Jalen Duren, the NBA player sparking dating rumours with WNBA’s Angel Reese? He helped prepare Team USA for the Paris Olympics and boasts a US$19.5 million contract with the Detroit Pistons

Jalen Duren is an NBA rising star who signed a four-year US$19.5 million contract with the Detroit Pistons. Photo: @jalenduren/Instagram

Speculation has it that a WNBA player and national champion is dating an NBA player and fellow rising star. We’re talking about Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese and Detroit Pistons centre Jalen Duren. Dating rumours surfaced after eagle-eyed fans inferred from their social media posts that they might be holidaying at the same destination.

But just who is Jalen Duren, the pro baller who reportedly signed a US$19.5 million contract for four years with the Detroit Pistons and likes to keep his dating life private?

What sparked the Jalen Duren and Angel Reese dating rumours?

Last month, Reese posted a photo of herself in a Barbie-pink Gucci swimsuit and matching pink Chanel shades on her Instagram Stories and TikTok – just a day after Duren had shared a sunset view in an Instagram Story. From those images fans speculated that they were in the same location.

According to The Shade Room, Reese was previously linked to rapper G Herbo after her break-up with Florida State Seminoles guard Cam’Ron Fletcher in March this year. And while Reese might be used to fans’ interest in her romances, this is reportedly the first time that Duren is in the spotlight for his love life. Neither party has confirmed or denied their dating rumours.

Where is Jalen Duren from?

Jalen Duren spent his youth in Sharon Hill, Philadelphia. Photo: @jalenduren/Instagram

The 208cm tall athlete was born in Delaware but grew up in Sharon Hill, Philadelphia. He initially played for The Roman Catholic High School before joining the Montverde Academy in Florida, per Hour Detroit.

And despite his moves throughout his youth and current career with the NBA, he still has love for his hometown.

According to Forbes, the 20-year-old is an investor and financial backer of Nike Elite Youth Basketball League’s Team Final, which allows him to “try to bring [basketball] back to the community, [and get] kids involved during the summer, before they’re ready to go back to school”.

He helped Team USA prepare for the Paris Olympics

Jalen Duren tries to control the ball during a practice session scrimmage against the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team in July, 2024. Photo: Getty Images

Duren was a part of the USA Basketball’s Select Team that helped the four-time defending Olympic gold-medal winning Team USA prepare for the 2024 Olympics. The senior team consists of NBA legends like Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.

Jalen Duren wants to be a model

Jalen Duren loves fashion. Photo: @jalenduren/Instagram

B-ball is not the only thing on Duren’s mind. According to an interview with Hour Detroit, Duren has an interest in fashion and modelling, but wants to be able to pursue the profession seriously, and not just as “the basketball guy playing at modelling”.