Since coach Tim Cone said that he is using the Iran golden generation basketball team as a model for his Gilas program, I think the best iteration of the Iran national team is the team that bagged the gold medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship which was held in Manila. So I want to compare/match that Iran 2013 with our current Gilas team.
Iran's 2013 roster:
Starting five: 7-foot-2 Hamed Haddadi, 6-foot-8 Oshin Sahakian, 6-foot-5 Samad Nikkah Bahrami, 6-foot-3 Hamed Afagh, 6-foot Mehdi Kamrani
Bench:6-foot-11 Ashgar Kardoust, 6-foot-11 Rozbeh Arghavan, 6-foot-10 Sorabnejad, 5-foot-10 Davoudi, 6-foot-4 Mohammed Jamshidi.
Current Gilas team:
Starting 5: Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo, Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, Iskati Thompson
Bench: Junmar Fajardo, AJ Edu, Jamie Malonzo, Calvin Oftana, Kevin Quiambao, CJ Perez & Chris Newsome.
I think at the starting 5, 28-year old Haddadi (I mean during 2013) was slightly better than 22-year old Kai. A prime Sahakian (in 2013) was a bit better than the still developing Carl Tamayo. I think current Brownlee is better than the 30-year old Bahrami (in 2013). Dwight Ramos is better than Afagh. I give Kamrani a slight edge over Iskati.
I think in terms of starting 5, I give Iran the overall slight edge.
I think it is in the bench that Gilas would enjoy a significant edge over Iran. I think anyone among the Gilas bench, even the youngest player - KQ, can be a starting 5. The same could not be said about Iran which was too dependent on its starters while its relievers hardly earned playing time & opportunity to contribute. You take away Haddadi & Bahrami from the team & Iran would just be an ordinary team in which averaged teams in Asia can beat anytime. You take away Kai Sotto & JB from Gilas, & I think the team will still be dangerous an opponent by any top Asian team.