With Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, the Detroit Pistons have one of the most promising young backcourts in the NBA and the foundation of their rebuild.
We recently took at look at how the Pistons backcourt ranked in the Eastern Conference, but today we’ll explore how they stack up against other young backcourt duos league wide.
For the purposes of these rankings, I only looked at backcourts where both players were 25-years-old or younger. Both guys had to have started most of their games together (or will), and I used a combination of current production and future potential to come up with the final results.
Here are the top-10 young backcourts in the NBA, which most definitely includes Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey of the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons: Top-10 young backcourts in the NBA
#10: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Darius Garland
- Collin Sexton
“Sex-Land” would probably rank a little higher if Sexton’s future weren’t so uncertain. The Cavaliers still haven’t signed him, though there are reports that they have made him a lowball offer. When healthy and together, these two can average close to 50 points per game, but it’s possible that their days as teammates will soon be over.
#9: Sacramento Kings
- De’Aaron Fox
- Davion Mitchell
These two give the Kangz a nice offense/defense combo, as Fox is one of the top scoring guards in the league and Mitchell is a plus defender. Talent-wise, they are not elite, though Fox could certainly make an All-Star game or two in his career. Mitchell profiles more as a role player unless his shooting efficiency goes way up.
#8: Orlando Magic
- Cole Anthony
- Jalen Suggs
These two are both very good players already, but does Anthony have another level? I think Suggs definitely does, but the ceiling for these two might be “fringe” All-Stars. Anthony has already been one of the steals of his draft and Suggs will definitely improve over time, giving Orlando one of the best young backcourts in the league and a nice core to build around.
Detroit Pistons: Top-10 young backcourts in the NBA
#7: Indiana Pacers
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Bennedict Mathurin
Haliburton is a talented, smart player who has already been very productive in his short career. If the Detroit Pistons could re-do the 2020 Draft, he’d probably be their guy since Killian Hayes has not been as good thus far. Will Haliburton make an All-Star game in his career? I’m not sure. The potential of this duo will rest on how good Mathurin is, and he could be very good as a shooting guard with plus size who can flat-out score.
#6: Oklahoma City Thunder
- Josh Giddey
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
I love what OKC is building after about 50 straight years of tanking, as these two guys along with Chet Holmgren form one of the best young trios in the NBA. Giddey has the potential to be a Jason Kidd type player who can be an elite distributor and defender, but will he ever be able to shoot? SGA is a young star, but he’s mostly been putting up huge stats on bad teams so far, so next season will really be the test for him and the Thunder.
#5: Houston Rockets
- Jalen Green
- Kevin Porter Jr.
I am sure there are people who will disagree with these two being so low, as Jalen Green looks like a future superstar, especially after the way he closed out the season. I am still not sold on Kevin Porter Jr. until I see him do it consistently, but he looks like a solid playmaker and scorer himself. I think their defense is suspect, but these two can definitely score and the Rockets may have the most exciting young offense in the league next season.
Detroit Pistons: Top-10 young backcourts in the NBA
#4: Minnesota Timberwolves
- De’Angelo Russell
- Anthony Edwards
I am not a huge fan of Russell’s game, though he is a good scorer. He can’t defend and it’s also possible he won’t be on the Timberwolves that much longer depending on whether they extend him. But Anthony Edwards will be an MVP candidate one day and is somehow this good at only 21-years-old. He has a chance to be one of the best two-ways players in the NBA soon, which is why the Timberwolves are this high.
#3: Detroit Pistons
- Cade Cunningham
- Jaden Ivey
This one is based mostly on potential since these two have yet to play a minute together for the Detroit Pistons. Cade Cunningham has already proven himself to be one of the most well-rounded guards in the league, as he can score, pass, rebound and defend. His stats could take a huge leap next season with better shooters and lob threats around him, which includes Jaden Ivey.
Ivey’s speed and athleticism offer a perfect counterpoint to Cade’s cerebral play, and the two have a chance to be elite defensively, which is one of the things that sets them apart from some of the other young backcourts on this list.
This is the duo the Detroit Pistons are hoping will lead them out of the cellar and back to their rightful spot as one of the best teams in the NBA.
Detroit Pistons: Top-10 young backcourts in the NBA
#2: Memphis Grizzlies
- Ja Morant
- Desmond Bane
However you slice it, Ja Morant is one of the best players in the league, a fringe MVP candidate last season who led his team to a #2 seed in the Western Conference. Cade Cunningham and the Pistons are hoping to emulate the Grizzlies, building around an elite guard and getting most of their talent from the draft.
Desmond Bane is certainly not a household name but may be one of the most underrated players in the NBA. This is a guy who scored over 18 points per game on 43 percent from long range on a high volume, giving Morant the perfect floor spacer to make room for him to operate.
#1: Atlanta Hawks
- Trae Young
- Dejounte Murray
These two have the most experience of any two guards on this list, so it makes sense that they hold the top spot for now. Both have already made the All-Star team and Young was an All-NBA selection this year as well.
Young is already one of the top scorers in the NBA and has led his team to the Eastern Conference Finals, while Dejounte Murray is more of an all-arounder who can score, rebound his position, play defense and be the team’s top facilitator.
They haven’t played together yet, but their combination of current production and future potential make Young and Murray the best young backcourt in the NBA….for now.