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Disclaimer: These players are chosen based on birthplace so that there's no debate on citizenship. And this is simply a theoretical best-of-7 matchup...not who has the greater individual players because you can argue Europe wins 4/5 positions listed.

In general, who would win in a theoretical matchup assuming both have equal benches and coaching? Let's assume today's rules since most of the players are fairly recent. I tried to pick players based on fit and availability. For example, Pau Gasol doesn't make the starting 5 even though I could objectively say he's greater than Drazen Petrovic. If you can suggest a better lineup, please list them.

Europe:
PG - Luka Doncic (Slovenia)
SG - Drazen Petrovic (Croatia)
SF - Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
PF - Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
C - Nikola Jokic (Serbia)

Africa:
PG - Steve Nash (South Africa)
SG - Luol Deng (South Sudan)
SF - Pascal Siakam (Camaroon)
PF - Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria)
C - Joel Embiid (Camaroon)

At first glance, Europe clearly has the better shooters and better individual talent from top to bottom. However, Africa has the better defenders and the twin towers. Even though Giannis is more mobile than Dirk, I think he matches up better with Hakeem...therefore, I placed him at PF. You can afford to hide Dirk on Siakam in this matchup.

yeah Europe has always lacked long and athletic wings compared to Africa. I'd probably bench either Giannis or Dirk for AK47

I'd go with peak Kirilenko too. Europe desperately needs defensive help and that adds a second top help defender to Giannis. They don't need the scoring nearly as much.

AdagioPace wrote:yeah Europe has always lacked long and athletic wings compared to Africa. I'd probably bench either Giannis or Dirk for AK47

Giannis is the most valuable player on team europe as it's currently constructed, It would have to be one of the offensive guys I think, and Dirk is the worst so

Dirk >>>> Petrovic though. I'd just run AK47 at SG and he doesn't hurt you too much offensively.

I think you need the extra ballhandler and 3 point shooting that Drazen gives you more than Dirk's great midrange game considering the rest of the starters. Admittedly, Africa as constructed also has a 4 playing 3 and a 3 playing 2 so maybe it would work.

AdagioPace wrote:yeah Europe has always lacked long and athletic wings compared to Africa. I'd probably bench either Giannis or Dirk for AK47

That's a great idea, substituting AK47 for Dirk. Giannis can already act as their de-facto rim protector.

Oof. My first thought was Europe would take it due to talent but Africa's defence is disgusting. Deng, Siakam, Hakeem and Embiid. I vote for Africa.

Team Africa has two centers and two power forwards. Team Europe has better fit and talent in my opinion

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