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NBA: Could a Team Europe now beat a Team USA?

By Luke Duffy

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers hug following a game at Fiserv Forum on December 19, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers hug following a game at Fiserv Forum on December 19, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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NBA stars Anthony Davis vs Rudy Gobert

You might be surprised to see Rudy Gobert here (or not, depending on your opinion of him), but as already mentioned Team Europe is certainly top heavy, and fitting in these talented big men in the most logical way possible is a good problem to have. Besides, Gobert is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and has the nickname “The Stifle Tower” which I mean, come on.

He’s also currently manning the paint for a Utah Jazz outfit that have gone from definite playoff team to legitimate contender. Obviously Donovan Mitchell and a deep roster have contributed a lot to that leap taking place, but it is built around the presence in the paint that Gobert brings (a career high 13.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per night for good measure).

Unfortunately for Gobert, not only is he coming up in a generational talent in Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers, but Davis has the kind of game that exposes Gobert badly. Whether he’s worth max money or not is your opinion (and this grumpy European isn’t sold), but the dirty secret of Gobert is that he’s probably the best player in the league who you can’t play in crunch time of big playoff moments.

That may be changing again as the league trends back towards bigger players, but no matter what way you look at it, Davis is coming out on top here. He’s an eight-time All-Star with a ridiculous offensive game, who also has similar basic defensive numbers to Gobert as well (career 10.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks).

Would this be a fair fight? In a vacuum Gobert would certainly have his moments, and given that this game will never happen, a vacuum has to stand for something. But Davis just offers too much and in ways that Gobert never could. If you could only pick one to start a franchise with, who would it be? Exactly. Credit to Gobert though, he’d hang in there valiantly and in a different time would come out on top against the best bigs that America have to offer.