DeMarcus Cousins suggests an unstoppable pairing with Giannis Antetokounmpo

Even so, doubts remain about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ability to carry the Bucks to another title on his own. Several analysts argue that he needs a second superstar alongside him. Former All-Star DeMarcus Cousins recently suggested that one standout player from the Eastern Conference could join Giannis to form a dominant partnership.

“Trae Young would really be nice next to Giannis,” said the former NBA All-Star during his appearance on FanDuel’s Run It Back. “I can see him next to Giannis, and that being a real good situation. That two-man game would be unstoppable.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Trae Young’s theoretical “unstoppable” pairing

The 27-year-old Trae Young has played all eight of his NBA seasons with the Atlanta Hawks after arriving in a draft-night trade from the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic. He earned his fourth All-Star nod last season, but since leading Atlanta to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020-21, the Hawks have suffered two first-round playoff exits and two play-in tournament losses over the past four years.

Young has consistently ranked among the NBA’s top pick-and-roll playmakers. Last season, he led the league with 11.5 points per game as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, and through the opening week of the 2025-26 season, he is already among the top five in that category.

At the same time, the numbers do not show Giannis Antetokounmpo as a conventional pick-and-roll ball-handler. Lately, he has spent much of his time in point-forward roles, handling playmaking rather than initiating standard pick-and-rolls. Still, Giannis remains a dominant screener, and when he rolls to the rim, his size, strength, and athleticism create major challenges for opposing defenses.

The pairing would demand significant adjustment and carries inherent risks, especially considering how the Damian Lillard experiment fell short. Still, if Giannis were willing to share ball-handling duties and distribute offensive responsibility, Trae Young could emerge as a highly effective partner.