All-NBA starting XI using Chelsea’s 4-2-2-2 system
Forward: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
The flashy guard for the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder is the perfect player to put in at any point in the match on the wing. He is much like Vinicius Jr. at Real Madrid with his pure and obvious skillset on an individual level. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a lot to prove, similar to Callum Hudson-Odoi at Chelsea, and putting him on the bench will make him even hungrier when he gets out on the pitch. Most likely the first man off the bench. Gilgeous-Alexander can play as the forward or on the flank if necessary. In terms of football, there is not an exact position on the pitch that SGA would be assigned to, but putting him anywhere in the attack will cause the opposition to question its defense.
Utility: Miles Bridges (Hornets)
Pure athleticism. Miles Bridges knows how to make the highlight reel play. He is like the Adama Traore of this All-NBA football team; a secret weapon that when necessary, can be released to go try to either win the game or salvage a point. He is not afraid to take a risk or two on the offensive end, and when the scoreline is not as favorable, that could pay dividends. Bridges may be inconsistent at times, but over the years, he has turned himself into a weapon that can drop 20 points on any given night. He earns a place on the bench for his talent and intensity alone, despite some of the ejections. Bridges has the talent to create potentially one of the most lethal attacking threats on the football pitch there is.
Manager: Tyronn Lue (Clippers)
One of the most underrated coaches in the entire NBA is Tyronn Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers. When it comes to becoming a football manager, he seems to have all the tools to succeed. This past season, Lue led a team without its two best players within one win of making NBA playoffs. He knows how to coach a team with less talent and get the best out of it. While he is given a lot of slack due to his time in Cleveland, Lue has proven a lot of people wrong this past season with the job he has done with the Clippers.
There could be a lot of other shouts for a potential manager. Given Lue’s winning background and his ability to get the best out of everyone though, he makes a good case for the manager of the all-NBA starting XI. Monty Williams and Taylor Jenkins have had some stellar seasons coaching-wise, but none of them are the technicians of the game that Lue is. He is not simply a product of James’ greatness, Lue is one of the best coaches in the league when it comes to football, there is no doubt his team will be the hardest working on the pitch that day.
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