Basketball Earth

Question

_{This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #1: Restricted Title: xkcd 1xxx}

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Below, you will see a map with twenty UN members or observer states labelled with one or more letters from A-G (except one, which is labelled 'X'). Additionally, seven images of basketballs are presented, numbered 1-7.

TASK: Deduce the map labelling rule that enables you to pair up each letter A-G with exactly one number 1-7. Additionally, explain with justification which letter(s) should take the place of the black 'X' near the centre of the map.

(Click image to enlarge)

^{For avoidance of doubt, the labelled countries on this map are (in alphabetical order): Democratic Republic of the Congo, Estonia, eSwatini, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, North Korea, North Macedonia, Palestine, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Korea, South Sudan, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United States, and Uzbekistan.}

Answer 1

I think the X should be replaced by

D

First off

The seven images at the bottom are all a part of the logo of a different NBA basketball team. Namely (in order)

Brooklyn Nets
Indiana Pacers
Miami Heat
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Phoenix Suns
Washington Wizards

The mapping rule:

Each state gets assigned those basketball teams which names (excluding the city) can be made using the letters of the state. E.g. for "Switzerland (EG)", we can make "wizards" and "nets", but not any of the others. In the end this gives us the following map:

A = Miami Heat
B = Indiana Pacers
C = Oklahoma City Thunder
D = Phoenix Suns
E = Brooklyn Nets
F = Orlando Magic
G = Washington Wizards

So the X

must be "D", as only "Suns" can be made out of "South Sudan"