Their eyelids are heavy, their eyes red: in training this Tuesday noon in Levallois, the Milwaukee Bucks seem tired. It is understandable: at 1:30 am French time, the best NBA team of the season ended its match against Chicago (11-98) in Wisconsin. Eight hours of private plane later and 6,500 km further, Giannis Antetokounmpo's partners, who head a delegation of 80 people, are already in France to play a regular season match against the Charlotte Hornets.
"It is not a sacrifice but a privilege to be there despite a short night," says All Star Khris Middleton. Only one "deer" is missing: Antetokounmpo himself. The "Greek monster" (his nickname) did not fly. "For personal reasons, slip his coach Mike Budenholzer, he will join us more by special flight". No worries: the star, MVP of the NBA season in 2019, was there on Wednesday.
Victory walkin 'straight to Paris. pic.twitter.com/JyJI970usl
- Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 21, 2020But his absence is indicative of the functioning of an NBA team. It has nothing to do with a pro club in Europe. "Unlike us, confirms Jacques Monclar, NBA specialist on beIN Sports, the NBA does not know the green, systematic meals and gatherings in common at the hotel. Between matches and training, players are free to do what they want, lunch where they want and with whom they want. They can go out if they want to. They are empowered. All they are asked to do is be good at the game and training. "
"Everyone came with women and children"
Compared to a typical European team, the two franchises, which will clash on Friday evening on the floor of the AccorHotels Arena, have an unnamed advantage: their immense wealth. According to Forbes magazine, the Bucks weigh $ 1.4 billion, the Hornets, $ 1.3 billion. In comparison, the PSG according to the same source, is side 1.1 billion. With such a piggy bank, they can afford anything. In two large luxury hotels around Place Vendôme, they together house nearly 160 people: eighty for the Bucks and seventy-nine for the “Hornets” of boss Michael Jordan.
“Everyone came with women and children. I even have teammates who are accompanied by their mom. It's also a break for everyone in the middle of the season, ”said Nicolas Batum, basketball player for the Hornets. In this lot, the players represent almost not much because the caravan is so imposing. "The teams plan everything," says Jacques Monclar. It goes from mascots to pompoms through to those responsible for security, medical, logistics. All the clubs have an armada of assistant coaches and the two teams took advantage of the trip to bring all their players, even those who do not or rarely play. "
"We want to taste wines and good food"
Rich in millions too, the giants of the game intend to take advantage of the stay to do some shopping. To see them, rather than hanging around a room, it is better to aim for a luxury boutique in the streets of the capital. The Bucks had free rein this Wednesday and made a detour by the Parc des Princes. “We are in France and we want to enjoy a culture that we don't all know well. We want to taste the wines, good food, go to the great restaurants, ”says coach Mike Budenholzer.
🏀 NBA x PSG ⚽️ @PSG_inside welcomes the @Bucks to Paris with custom jerseys and gear! #NBAParis pic.twitter.com/irUTXKM7Ie
- NBA (@NBA) January 22, 2020These pictures, even in the NBA, die hard. The main thing will be not to forget Friday's meeting against the Charlotte Hornets. "It can't be a game like any other," said Khris Middleton. We feel the excitement of the fans, ours. We are in France, we are enjoying it but there is a match to be won as if we were at home. "