NBA: Could a Team Europe now beat a Team USA?
By Luke Duffy
NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo vs LeBron James
The premiere matchup in what would be the game of games, this battle between Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and LeBron James of the Lakers also serves as what many believe to be the passing of the torch of the league. LeBron won’t be around forever, although like Tom Brady he is doing his best to do what nobody ever has and beat Father Time.
Look, you’re probably taking James here because if your life depended on it and you need somebody to win you a game or series, he is your man. There are no arguments here. If he wins another regular season MVP, and one more title, he might just be the best to ever do it.
But the fact that Team Europe, or European basketball products in general, have now hit a point that this can be regarded as a conversation, is pretty much the whole reason we’re doing this thing. Yes, Giannis is a generational talent, and there aren’t tons more guys like him waiting to be found in the Greek second division.
But he is already among the best players Europe has ever produced, at a time when the NBA as a whole is filled with many of the best players that the continent has ever produced. That has to mean something. So too does Giannis having the All-Star team named after him two seasons in a row, with LeBron being on the other side.
He is a two-time regular season MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, and while the postseason success hasn’t been to the same standard (two disappointing flameouts in each MVP campaign is a worry), on his night Giannis is the best player in the world. Much like LeBron, he could have played any position on the court. As will continue to be the case though, he comes up against a guy he looks up to, in a matchup that would likely decide the game.