Power ranking each NBA team by their 2-on-2 NBA Jam pairings

20. Minnesota Timberwolves: D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns

The real-life Timberwolves are leaning into an offensive core, so their 2-on-2 model should as well. Russell and Towns will be able to get buckets in a bevy of ways; the former has the finesse to get off all kinds of shots, and the latter is an excellent 3-point shooter who can use that gravity to get easy points at the rim.

They just have to survive defensively, but that in itself is a big ask. Russell isn’t very quick on the perimeter, but at 6’5″ he should be able to hang in a pinch. Towns also has the tools to be a versatile defender, but we have yet to see much of it in the NBA.

19. Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Triple J didn’t take the leap that many expected this season, but he’s still an excellent shooter for a big man, with the foundation to be a multi-positional defender. He just has to survive against certain bigs in this competition and has the 3-point stroke to make them cover him out to the arc.

Meanwhile, the rookie Morant played well above his age as the lead guard for what is currently a playoff team. His length and athleticism helped him put constant pressure on the rim this season, and Jackson’s spacing will help him tremendously here. That plus wingspan will also be vital for him defensively, as he’ll see all kinds of assignments on the perimeter. The offense should come easy for these two, and the defense shouldn’t be too bad.