The arrival of the NBA's European representatives this Thursday evening for the Eurocup quarter-final between Paris Basket and the Spaniards of Badalone at the Adidas Arena at Porte de la Chapelle (18th century) is not innocent.
According to our information, the NBA has, in fact, recorded the presence of the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama on the bill for two regular season matches at the Accor Arena in Paris in 2025. The contract will be signed in the coming hours.
A year and a half after his departure from the Metropolitans 92, the new tricolor superstar of the orange ball will be able to perform in front of French fans.
“I can confirm to you that the NBA will be back in Paris for a new match in Paris 2025,” Adam Silver, the commissioner (president) of the NBA, told our columns in January.
However, I can't tell you which team will be present but, in my mind, I really want to bring one.
A franchise has a really good chance of being there.
I promise you that we are working hard on this file to make it move forward quickly.
I hope we can announce the poster for this match in Paris.
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Victor Wembanyama showed himself to his advantage on March 11 against the Golden State Warriors.
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The boss of the NBA therefore saw his wish come true to the great pleasure of the French who will see their champion in France, first with the French team during the Paris Olympics then with the San Antonio Spurs for two matches regular season.
First choice in the 2023 Draft, Wemby is having a thunderous first season with the Texan team, last in the Western Conference.
He averages more than 20 points and 10 rebounds and ranks first in blocks (3.4) one month before the end of the regular season.
Solid statistics which should allow him to win the title of rookie of the year next June.
Also read “I am optimistic by nature”: we experienced a Spurs match with the Wembanyama fans
After Charlotte - Milwaukee in 2020, Detroit - Chicago in 2023 and Cleveland - Brooklyn last January, the Accor Arena will host not one but two regular season matches.
Spurs would face the same team twice in the space of three days, probably on a Thursday and a Saturday.
The relocation of the match to Paris La Défense Arena, in Nanterre, at Victor Wembanyama, with its 30,000 seats instead of the 15,000 at the Accor Arena had been considered but the NBA preferred to stay in the Parisian venue.
Twenty-two years after a preseason match against Memphis, the Spurs will be back in the capital.
Already at the time, the Texans were led by a young Frenchie who would become a legend of French sport, Tony Parker.