Nicolas Batum: "I saw my first NBA match in Paris"

He is the regional of the stage of the first official NBA game in France between Charlotte and Milwaukee this Friday in Paris. During the stay of the franchise owned by Michael Jordan, the Norman, 31, serves as a guide for his teammates. Before the first training of his franchise on French soil in Levallois (Hauts-de-Seine), he answered a few questions this Wednesday.

Do you feel like you are participating in a historic event: a first NBA game in Paris?

NICOLAS BATUM. It is indeed a special moment in a career. Being a non-American player and playing an NBA game in your own country is great. Not only is it an NBA game but it is an official game, a real one. It is the first time in France and to be part of it, I am proud of it. To be the first to do that is something.

Nearly 200,000 people wanted to attend this match…

It's cool ! The NBA is globalizing and is very popular in France. It is a good thing for the French public who deserves it. I'm glad he takes advantage of it. But I am not surprised by this extraordinary craze. France loves the NBA with Tony ( Parker ) and Boris ( Diaw ) who popularized it. My generation is trying to follow them.

Was it in Paris that you saw the first NBA game of your life?

Absolutely. It was in 2003, a preseason match in Bercy between San Antonio with Tony Parker and Memphis. It's the very first game I saw live. I was 14, I was sitting at the top of the stands. Today, I'm part of the thing, I'm in the field and a kid may be in the same position as me at the time. It's impressive.

. @ nicolas88batum tells Eric Collins about his favorite spot in Paris 🇫🇷 (and teaches him a little French!) @HornetsOnFSSE | #AllFly x #HornetsParis pic.twitter.com/DLtjluURLi

Do you find your marks in the capital?

Full. We train in Levallois in a room where I usually come to work in summer alone at 7 am. It's a different mood at that time, believe me. There are fewer people than today ( Wednesday ).

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Are your teammates also happy to be in Paris?

Definitely! We went to the Eiffel Tower, they were all like kids. We had to stay ten minutes: we spent twenty good minutes there. They all took photos, they ask lots of questions. It's awesome.

Do you play the role of guide?

Yes and no because they still know the main spots in the city, even if I know mine well. I know that some people want to go up to the Sacré-Coeur, to go down the Champs-Élysées on foot. After that, we are only there for two days so you have to choose what you want to do. Time flies.

However, your team is not in a good dynamic: isn't such a long trip a concern?

No, it's the opposite. This allows us to get together. And then, we have an important match against the best team of the season.