Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren are the biggest reasons the Detroit Pistons sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 19-5 record. After they ended the Pistons’ five-year playoff drought last season, the two are looking to carry the team to greater heights. Cunningham and Duren are striving for more success built on the chemistry they’ve forged over summer getaways.The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson gave on Sunday the reason behind the strong bond between Detroit’s young stars:“Last summer, Cunningham coordinated an ‘off-the-grid’ week in Colorado with friends that Duren felt broadened his horizons. The group stayed in small cabins with few modern amenities and spent time in nature, training, hiking and fishing.”Patterson continued that Cunningham and Duren started spending summers together in 2024. The first time they trained together, Duren visited Cunningham in Dallas. The strategy worked as the two guided the Pistons to the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Detroit exited in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, giving the duo more reason to sustain their summer sessions.According to Patterson, the time spent in Colorado “exposed Duren to the way Cunningham’s mind works.”The chemistry between Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren is evident in the Pistons’ offense. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff runs a staple of pick-and-roll plays involving the All-Star guard and emerging big man.Cunningham averages 11.2 points per game as a ball handler in pick-and-roll plays, third in the NBA. As the “roll man,” Duren is putting up 3.7 ppg, fourth-best in the league. Only Nikola Jokic, Nikola Vucevic and Deandre Ayton are better than him.Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren also trained in RomeAfter training together in Colorado, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren stayed in Rome for two weeks. Hunter Patterson reported:“They toured the ancient Roman Colosseum, biked around the city and spent time on the water, sightseeing and shopping.”The two did not prevent setbacks from keeping them off their basketball-related plans. Patterson added:“Their hoop shoes got caught at customs, limiting their on-court work and forcing them to work out in store-bought running shoes.”The summer workouts over the past two seasons have built the foundations of their success. Patterson wrote that jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham have high expectations of each other and hold themselves accountable.The Detroit Pistons are reaping the benefits of their chemistry and lofty aspirations.