Germany vs. Japan: Predicted starting 5s and depth chart | Basketball Showcase Game (July 19, 2024)

Germany faces off with Japan in an exhibition game on Friday ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer. The game is set for a 2:00 EST tip-off in London as part of a friendly invititational tournament.

The two teams last faced off in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, with Germany crusing to a comfortable 85-63 win in Group E. They were led by Mo Wagner, who scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Nearly a third of Japan's points came from one of their few NBA talents, Yuta Watanabe, who had 20 points.

The Germans went on to win the World Cup, while Japan finished 3-2 and 19th in the final standings of the tournament they hosted along with the Phillipines and Indonesia.

Both teams are returning similar rosters this summer. Germany won their last exhibition game in dominant fashion, 95-50, against the Netherlands on July 13. They are coming off a 24-point loss to France, though, and have one more exhibition game, against Team USA, on Monday.

Japan has played four international friendlies this summer, two each against South Korea and Australia. Each game was close, with an 88-80 win and 85-84 loss against South Korea and a 90-89 loss and 85-85 draw to Australia.

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Germany vs. Japan starting lineups and depth chart

The Germans boast a roster that includes four current NBA players. Joining the team's longest tenured player, Shroder, is the Orlando Magic brother-duo of Franz and Mo Wagner and New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis.

Germany depth chart

Position	Starters	Bench	Bench
PG	Dennis Shroder	Isaac Bonga
SG	Andreas Obst	Justin Hollatz	Nick Weiler-Babb
SF	Franz Wagner	Maodo Lo	Oscar Da Silva
PF	Johannes Voigtmann	Niels Giffey
C	Daniel Theis	Mo Wagner

Japan depth chart

The Japanese roster includes former Memphis Grizzlies forward Yura Watanabe, and Keisei Tominaga, the young guard out of Nebraska who signed with the Indiana Pacers. The rest of their team consists of talent who mainly compete in the Japanese national basketball league.

Position	Starters	Bench	Bench
PG	Yuki Kawamura	Keisei Tominaga
SG	Yudai Baba	Yuki Togashi	Kai Toews
SF	Makoto Heijima	Jacobs Tajon Akira
PF	Yuta Watanabe	Soichiro Inoue	Hirotaka Yoshii
C	Josh Hawkinson	Koya Kawamata

This game will serve as a preview for one of the first games of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Both teams are in Group B and play each other on July 27. The other teams in the group include France and Brazil.