All-NBA starting XI using Chelsea’s 4-2-2-2 system

The NBA Finals are now underway, so it is time to take a look at some players that could be dual athletes on both the football pitch and the basketball court. Seeing how much European football means to some of these NBA players—like LeBron James’ love for Liverpool or Josh Hart’s passion for Chelsea—presents the idea of creating a line-up of all NBA players. From lengthy centers to versatile guards, there are plenty of players in the National Basketball Association that could make up a solid starting XI in football.

While their talents are in putting the ball in the basket, let’s see what it would look like if the NBA created a starting XI on a pitch. Taking into account all of the players that play in the NBA, it is a difficult decision to narrow it to just a starting XI and a bench. There are so many questions could surface when discussing this topic, such as: who should lead this team on the sideline and out of all the players in the league, what attributes would translate best onto the pitch? We’ve tried to answer these questions as best we can with this team full of NBA stars. It is worth noting that the formation chosen is the Blues’ occasional 4-2-2-2 as it seems like the most favorable shape to highlight the attributes of the American athletes.

Here is a complete starting XI, bench and coaching choice comprised completely from some of your favorite figures in the National Basketball Association:

Goalkeeper: Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)

A 6’11 forward/center with a whopping 7’4 wingspan sees the Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley named the starter between the sticks for the all-NBA starting XI. Mobley’s vertical spacing, wingspan and athleticism are all qualities that would help transform an NBA player into an elite goalkeeper. He may be just 20 years old, but Mobley has all of the attributes that could make him an ideal shot-stopper. Mobley averaged 15.0 points per game to go along with 8.3 rebounds, putting him in second in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Scottie Barnes. Who knows how well he would do with his feet, but given his build, he has the length to cover almost every inch of the goal.

He may not look like one of the most intimidating people in the squad, but his upside as he builds strength makes him the exact player in the NBA that could play arguably the most pressure-filled position on the football pitch. Mobley has been under the microscope his entire career from high school to college, but never did that once overwhelm him. His athleticism and youth give him a leg up on other players up for the position. The number of clean sheets Mobley would string together with the defense in front of him and his skills alone is frightening to ponder.