FIBA World Cup: How would the 9 best FIBA squads perform in the NBA?

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NBA Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Greece

PG: Nick Calathes (2009 2nd round pick),

SG: Kostas Sloukas (All-Euroleague First Team in 2018-2019), Tyler Dorsey (2017 2nd round pick)

SF: Kostas Papanikolaou (NBA), Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Ioannis Papapetrou (NCAA – Texas)

PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Georgios Printezis (2007 2nd round pick)

C: Georgios Papagiannis (NBA), Kostas Antetokounmpo (Lakers), Ioannis Bourousis (All-Euroleague First Team in 2015-2016)

Verdict: This team is essentially an NBA MVP in his prime who is surrounded by either marginal NBA-level or effective Euroleague players who each fill a specific role. Based on Giannis alone this team could make a run at the 5th-seed in the Eastern Conference.

Who do you have more faith in, Giannis and his entire family tree or the Orlando Magic? And this is not a knock on the Magic, but a testament to just how good the Antetokounmpos can be.

France

PG: Elie Okobo (Suns), Frank Ntilikina (Knicks), Andrew Albicy (All-Eurocup First Team 2018-2019),

SG: Evan Fournier (Magic), Nando De Colo (NBA),

SF: Nicholas Batum (Hornets), Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (NBA), Axel Toupane (NBA / G League)

PF: Joffrey Lauvergne (NBA), Kevin Seraphin (NBA), Guershon Yabusele (NBA), Louis Labeyrie (2014 2nd round pick), Amath M’Baye (NCAA – Wyoming / Oklahoma)

C: Rudy Gobert (Jazz), Vincent Poirier (Celtics), Mathias Lessort (2017 2nd round pick)

Verdict: While not as top-heavy as some of these teams, the talent is reasonably well distributed. I honestly think I would prefer this roster to the current Knicks. Although, to be fair, if France had a few more power forwards then this would be the exact type of roster that the Knicks would go into the luxury tax for.