Detroit Pistons: Modern players comparisons for Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart
Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo
For a modern comparison I looked to two teammates in Miami, a team that the Pistons would love to emulate when it comes to sustainable success.
Butler and Bey’s games have some differences, especially in how they get their buckets, but otherwise there are a lot of similarities.
Both are hard nosed forwards who love to take on the tough defensive assignment, even if it is a bigger player. Butler and Bey are fearless on the defensive end and both came into the league with a chip on their shoulder after being overlooked by a lot of teams in the draft.
Butler gets most of his baskets at the hoop and in the mid-range so his offensive game is much different than Bey, who gets most of his points at the 3-point line. But as Bey gets more confident taking it to the hoop and making plays, I could definitely see him adding these wrinkles to his offensive game.
Remember, Butler was a late bloomer on that end, so Bey has already shown more offensively than Butler did as a rookie.
Bam Adebayo is the type of modern big that Isaiah Stewart could be. Both of them have the quickness and size to defend all over the floor and when Adebayo added a jumper to his game, he went from role player to All-Star.
Could Stewart make a similar leap?
He already has more range on his shot than Adebayo, though Adebayo is better with the ball in his hands and more of a playmaker. However, Stewart has flashed nice passing ability as well, so with a couple of more years of seasoning, he could get there.
Both guys have endless motors, huge wingspans and the ability to defend just about anyone on the other team. If Stewart can stay consistent with his shooting, we could see him make the leap to All-Star in a few years.