The football world has its World Cup. The EuroLeague has… well, some pretty football-like players.
What if Europe’s biggest basketball stars traded sneakers for boots and lined up in a classic 4-4-2?
Here’s our EuroLeague XI. Built not on football ability, but on the traits that would make them feel surprisingly at home on a football pitch.
GK – Alpha Diallo
Modern goalkeeper. Lightning-quick reflexes, comfortable with the ball at his feet and rarely caught out of position. Good luck getting one past him.
RB – Nemanja Nedović
An attacking full-back through and through. Still has the pace despite the mileage, loves to bomb forward and sometimes needs a reminder that defending is also part of the job description.
LB – Kostas Sloukas
Old-school, conservative left-back. Never blessed with great speed, but always one step ahead thanks to his football IQ. Tucks inside, helps his center-backs and almost never makes the wrong decision.
CB – Nikola Milutinov
Dominant in the air. Reads the game well enough to make up for his lack of pace and becomes a serious threat whenever his team wins a corner.
CB – Thomas Walkup
A perfect complement to Milutinov. Tough, reliable and excellent at covering space. Comfortable carrying the ball out from the back, although he occasionally overcomplicates things.
CM – Codi Miller-McIntyre
The engine of the team. Covers every blade of grass, protects the back four and has no problem playing the first forward pass to launch an attack.
CM – Facundo Campazzo
Good luck taking the ball away from him. Strong lower body, outstanding technique and endless imagination. Less disciplined than Codi, but much more adventurous going forward.
RW – Kendrick Nunn
Electric pace, dazzling dribbling and fearless in one-on-one situations. Sometimes a little too eager to finish the move himself when a simple pass would do.
LW – Jean Montero
A right-footer operating from the left. Deadly cutting inside, but far from predictable. Can beat his man, score and create with equal ease. A potential breakout star of the tournament.
ST – Mike James
A born goalscorer. Lives for the final touch and never lacks confidence. Occasionally frustrates teammates because every attack seems to end with him pulling the trigger.
ST – Sasha Vezenkov
The classic target man. Outstanding in the air, lethal inside the box and clever enough to link the play when needed. Not just a finisher—there’s plenty of creativity there as well.
Coach – Svetislav Pešić
One last World Cup. One last shot at gold. Knows how to earn the trust of his players, but also when it’s time to raise his voice. Exactly the kind of manager you’d want for a tournament football.