At the Accor Arena
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“
I am close to saying that this trip is a success even before the game is held
,” smiled Adam Silver on Wednesday, on the eve of Chicago-Detroit.
No doubt the big boss of the NBA league has not changed his mind after what was the second regular season game in Paris after Milwaukee-Charlotte in 2020. The Accor Arena sold out (tickets sold less 30 minutes) and full to bursting despite the strikes, record number of broadcasters, partners: the NBA is at home in Paris.
The young (21) French leader of the Pistons Killian Hayes was a little more so, he who was invited to say a few words before the game from the center of the field.
“
Killian, we must ensure
“slipped Tony Parker, as a teasing master of ceremonies.
With 4 points and 7 assists, the clumsy ex-Choletais (2/13), could not avoid the defeat of his family against the Bulls (126-108) of Zach LaVine (30 pts) and DeMar DeRozan (26 ), winners of what Mr. Silver describes as “
a European All Star Game
”.
And there was indeed something to be mistaken, the start of the match taking place at high altitude, with many dunks and other spectacular actions, here a caviar between the legs of Vucevic signed Hayes, there a pass in the back of DeRozan for Vucevic… Before kick-off, the atmosphere was rising with the usual NBA entertainment, the Pistons DJ, the famous mascot Beny The Bull… Classic but effective before a well-made match.
It was obviously Hayes who entered the floor first when the Detroit team entered for the warm-up, as a guide.
Read alsoNBA: "It's frustrating, it was not my day", regrets Killian Hayes
Hayes, in form lately, who dreams of a golden destiny, in the footsteps of some French legends present Thursday, Joakim Noah, Mike Piétrus, Ronny Turiaf and TP.
“
He was under pressure, I was a little afraid of it… The Bulls defended well but he missed the shots he had been putting in for the past few months
,” summed up Dwane Casey, the Detroit coach.
“
It's frustrating.
Being in France, I wanted to play a big match... It wasn't my day but that's how it is.
Pressure ?
No.
I took the shots that I usually take
, ”said the person concerned.
Magic, Verratti, Gasly in the stands
The NBA has also brought several well-known figures in its suitcases, like a certain Magic Johnson, in the front row, sitting next to Pharrell Williams.
Obviously, the future French star Victor Wembanyama, future number 1 of the NBA Draft, was there.
Ditto for F1 drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon or even PSG midfielder Marco Verratti.
We imagine that some of his teammates would have liked to be there, Kylian Mbappé in the lead, but the Rouge et Bleu were away in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Still, the stars were as much on the floor as in the stands for this event, a regular season match in Paris, a match that counts.
And the Bulls' return for the first time since a preseason game in 1997. At the time,
Michael Jordan was entering his final season with the Illinois club.
Times have changed, but the myth still sells.
Chicago is also one of the most “bankable” teams internationally.
I am delighted and proud of the NBA's choice to make France and Paris one of its favorite playgrounds in the world.
Emmanuel Macron
The North American league has therefore been a hit in all areas in Paris.
This was the case through various activities during the week in the capital, with young and old.
Adam Silver also took the opportunity to meet President Macron on Wednesday, with the NBA announcing Thursday "
a collaboration including a series of initiatives whose objective is to highlight basketball in France and in Africa at all levels
".
Upcoming partnership with the French Federation (FFBB) and the National Basketball League (LNB).
"
I am delighted and proud of the NBA's choice to make France and Paris one of its favorite playgrounds in the world, Emmanuel Macron said in a statement.
This reflects the longstanding special relationship France has had with the NBA.
Without doubt the most pleasant and simple meetings for the President of the Republic in these last days of social tensions.
Regional stage, Killian Hayes was not successful Thursday in Paris.
JB Autissier / PANORAMIC
On the game side, the Bulls were not in All Star Game mode.
Not enough to forget their goal in any case, they who are 10th in the East, ahead of the Pistons, 14th and penultimate.
They sailed in the lead throughout the first period, most often with a double-digit gap.
65-56 at the break.
Attack game.
Enough to delight this good-natured, conquered, happy, family-oriented, fairly international audience, as much as the richly populated press gallery (more than 200 accredited).
Public who could see that DeRozan, an uncertain time, has lost none of his silky technique.
Hayes was not very successful, preferring to make himself available to his teammates.
Read also“Historical market”, social networks … How the NBA fell in love with France
Shortly after the resumption, the turn of former glories of Detroit to be honored in the middle of the field, Rip Hamilton and Ben Wallace, as well as Magic, the latter obviously winning the prize in the applause meter.
In the game, Nikola Vucevic (16 pts, 15 rbs) more discreet than at the start of the match, but the Bulls in control despite the percussion of Hamidou Diallo (17 pts), winner of the 2019 dunks competition and whom we saw this week with the young people of Paris-SG.
Zach LaVine brings everyone together in the second half
The level of play went up a notch as the minutes went by, with LaVine, the man of the second half and the match, slamming a huge dunk for the show.
Dwane Casey's players had the merit of not letting go, of staying more or less in contact.
Good for the fans, good for the suspense.
In dire need of address, they tried everything for everything by attacking the circle, just to believe in it a little.
Suspense, but no reversal of the situation, DeRozan and company not losing the thread in the "
money-time
" (126-108 final score), despite such a particular context and at the end of what all the actors described as “
great experience
”.
They also all highlighted the "
beautiful atmosphere
" of the Accor Arena.
"
It was a privilege to be part of this event
,” said DeRozan.
Chicago pockets the victory, but obviously, it is the NBA which emerges as the big winner of this sequence.
Adam Silver did not hide that he expected to return next year to Bercy.
Not yet official, but it's just like… Same thing for “Wemby”, not yet officially in the NBA, but already part of the family.
As Mr. Silver had said on Wednesday, even Magic, who left a few minutes before the end, took the time to shake his hand… Everyone wants to approach the phenomenon, the other star of the evening.
The hype is crazy.
Unheard of for a player who has not yet played in the NBA since LeBron James!
"
It's a talent that we have never seen before
," enthuses Hayes
.
He is 2.21m, he shoots, he dribble and he moves like a guy who is 1.90!
It's impressive, you don't see that every day... He will help his team, wherever he goes, in attack and in defence.
He has a very big future ahead of him.
“Who knows, we may see the 19-year-old prodigy in Detroit in June, one of the worst teams in the US league in the standings and therefore one of those who have the best chance of drafting, at the end of June , the next face of French and perhaps world basketball.
The NBA is looking forward to the Frenchman.
And France awaits the NBA with the same appetite.
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