It hasn't escaped your attention, the NBA is in Paris this week with two Spurs – Pacers matches on the program. The opportunity to look back at the history of meetings that have taken place in the capital since 1994, the first year when the Grande Ligue set up shop in France for an NBA match.
The NBA in Paris, a relationship that has lasted for 30 years
NBA games in Paris
Pre-season:
- 18 octobre 1994 : Warriors – Hornets (132-116)
- October 8, 2003: Grizzlies – Spurs (93-105)
- October 9, 2008: Nets – Heat (100-98)
- 6 octobre 2010 : Knicks – Wolves (100-106)
It was in the mid-1990s, on October 18, 1994 to be precise, that the NBA offered its first match to the French public in Paris. A Warriors – Hornets bringing together big names on the Bercy floor: Latrell Sprewell, Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway, Manute Bol, Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues and Robert Parish. All this in front of more than 15,000 fans!
After this historic first meeting for the NBA in France, three other pre-season matches will be organized in Paris during the 2000s. A Grizzlies – Spurs with Tony Parker as a superstar, he who had become the first French NBA champion a few months earlier . A Nets – Heat allowing you to see Dwyane Wade and Vince Carter in action. And finally a Knicks – Wolves with Amar'e Stoudemire as headliner.
Regular season:
- 24 janvier 2020 : Bucks – Hornets (116-103)
- January 19, 2023: Bulls – Pistons (126-108)
- January 11, 2024: Nets – Cavaliers (102-111)
- January 23, 2025: Spurs – Pacers
- January 25, 2025: Pacers – Spurs
Five years ago almost to the day, the NBA set up shop in France for the first time for a regular season match. The poster? The Bucks of MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo against the Charlotte Hornets, where Nicolas Batum was playing at the time and of which Michael Jordan – present on site – was the owner. A moment necessarily special for the French public, even if the joy quickly gave way to shock when we learned of the death of Kobe Bryant two days later.
Due to COVID, the NBA suspended its matches in Paris in 2021 and 2022, before returning in 2023 for a historic match between two legendary franchises: Bulls and Pistons. Knowing that Zach LaVine is not Michael Jordan and that Killian Hayes is not Isiah Thomas, the match did not make many people dream, but at least the NBA was back in France. In 2024, it is the Nets and the Cavs of a huge Donovan Mitchell (45 points) who have filled the Accor Arena.
NBA Paris Game 2024: fighting, Mitchell on fire and Ronaldo, story of a unique evening
Donovan Mitchell dropped a new SEASON-HIGH at #NBAParis to secure the win over the Nets! ????️????????
-???? 45 PTS (21 in 4Q)
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— NBA (@NBA) https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1745565816274170015?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Open McDonald’s :
- October 18, 1991: Lakers – Limoges CSP (132-101)
- 19 October 1991: Lakers – Montigalà Joventut (116-114)
- October 17, 1997: Bulls – PSG Racing (89-82)
- October 18, 1997: Bulls – Olympiakos (104-78)
Two of the NBA's most iconic franchises came to France during the 1990s, not to play against each other but to participate in the McDonald's Championship, a competition pitting NBA teams against successful teams from the four corners of the globe. (Europe, Oceania, South America).
In 1991, it was Magic Johnson's legendary Lakers who took to the Bercy floor for two matches. They thus became the first NBA team to play in France. Six years later, while the Great League exploded in popularity across the planet, it was the immense Michael Jordan who came to Panama with his Bulls (five times NBA champions at the time). An all-time moment for basketball in France. MJ notably faced the PSG Racing of Stéphane Risacher, Zaccharie's dad.
Others :
- October 5, 2006: Spurs – ASVEL in Villeurbanne (115-90)
- October 8, 2006: Spurs – Maccabi Tel-Aviv (97-84)
During Tony Parker's rise with the Spurs, the NBA wanted to maximize the Frenchie's popularity by hosting two games in France before the 2006-07 season. The first in Villeurbanne against ASVEL (the club currently owned by TP), and the second in Paris against Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
The opportunity for Tony to confirm his new status as fiancé of Eva Longoria All-Star in front of the French public with two performances at 26 and 27 points, and to make people forget his… failed dunk.
NBA matches that took place in France
