The Detroit Pistons have a pair of ascending rookies in Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart.
Bey has already solidified himself as one of the best rookie 3-point shooters of all time, and Stewart has been a plus defender and rebounder who is showing improved range of his own.
Since both were picked outside of the lottery and could end up in the top-ten in Rookie of the Year voting, it’s safe to say that Troy Weaver did a good job finding talent later in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft.
Player comparisons are really just for fun, as no two players are alike and fans often make these comps based on how someone looks or superficial similarities with their game.
We were tasked with coming up for some comparisons for Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart so we chose three different categories: Old School, Modern and Pistons.
So without further delay, here are three pairs of players that remind us of the Pistons’ rookies. These would all be best-case scenarios and that would delight fans of the Detroit Pistons so don’t expect any of them to be of the “humble” variety.
Detroit Pistons: Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart- old school comparisons
Ron Artest and Horace Grant
When I think of players who are no longer in the game, there are a few who are similar to what we are seeing out of Bey and Stewart, but I see a lot of Ron Artest (aka Metta World Peace aka Metta Sandiford-Artest) and Horace Grant.
People unfortunately remember Metta Sandiford-Artest for his role in the Malice in the Palace but prior to that he was one of the best all-around forwards in the league. He was a big, tough defender who could guard just about anyone on the floor, could knock down shots from long-range and played with an edge.
Remind you of anyone? Saddiq Bey has many of these same qualities. He and Artest are virtually the same size, can defend all over the floor and Bey is already a knock-down 3-point shooter. Artest also had a mid-range and post element to his game that Bey is still developing, but it is not hard to see him adding more nuance to his offensive game.
Sandiford-Artest was an All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defense while also winning Defensive Player of the Year, so if Bey ends up there defensively the Pistons will be ecstatic.
Isaiah Stewart came into the NBA thought of as a defensive specialist who could be a plus defender and rebounder but not much else. He has been adding a jump shot and passing to his game and now his ceiling has to be recalibrated.
Could he end up being a dual threat like Horace Grant? Grant was one of the best all-around forwards of his day, but also came into the league as a defensive-minded player with a limited offensive game.
Grant just kept adding range to his jumper and eventually was money from 15-18 feet and a beast in the pick-and-roll. I could eventually see Stewart getting there, especially if he can continue to knock down shots from long-range.
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.
Detroit Pistons’ comparisons for Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart
Tayshaun Prince and Bill Laimbeer
I thought long and hard about former Pistons’ players who compare to Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart before landing on Tayshaun Prince and Bill Laimbeer.
Tayshaun Prince was one of the prototypes of the modern 3-and-D wing who has length, can defend multiple spots and knock down 3-pointers.
Prince’s versatility on both ends was part of the reason for the success of the Goin’ to Work era, as he would take on any defensive assignment and always seemed to have a knack for hitting a momentum-changing 3-point shot or coming up with a big block.
Saddiq Bey already has many of these same qualities, as he too has length, can defend all over and has a knack for timely long-range shots. Both were drafted later in the first round and ended up considerably outplaying their draft position.
One is a smooth, quiet lefty and one is more of a bruiser but otherwise there are a lot of similarities between Prince and Bey.
Speaking of bruisers, Isaiah Stewart is starting to remind me of a young Bill Laimbeer. People remember Laimbeer as a dirty player and a defensive maniac, but he was also one of the first “stretch-fives” in the NBA and still holds several records for 3-point shooting from a center.
Stewart is already getting there on defense and if he can keep shooting consistently from 3-point range could be the next Pistons’ enforcer who bodies a center on one end then steps out and hits a 3-point shot on the other.
These might be lofty comparisons for two guys who are just getting started but Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart have earned them so far and are giving Pistons’ fans something to be excited about.