The children happy to share workshops with the Texan squad on the floor of the Accor Arena, the marshmallow bears offered by the “Spurs House” within the NBA House or the impressive crowd of journalists gathered to observe for thirty minutes training sessions from each franchise… The choice is vast to tell the story of an NBA Paris Game eve. So, as the saying goes, let’s start at the beginning.
Wednesday January 22, 11:30 a.m.: the Bercy corridor located next to the press room – appearing narrower than last year – which leads to the pitch is full of journalists. Everyone waits in a hubbub that gives the organization a cold sweat while waiting for the green light to come watch the last minutes of San Antonio Spurs training. Only one instruction given by the NBA: stay off the floor. No problem, we weren’t planning on putting a foot in the racket to try to counter Wembanyama in full action.
Once the doors open, all media position themselves at the edge of the field, behind the front row seats. The cameras are installed, the phones and cameras already drawn. Luckily, the Spurs play an all-terrain game. To see Wemby at work, there is something for everyone, or rather their angle. And it is this media circus around a single player, which began upon his arrival in Paris on Monday, which dazzles the most.
This will be confirmed two hours later, when the Pacers take over on the Accor Arena floor. The journalists will still be there, but there will be – let’s say – a little more space to breathe. However, seeing Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam or even Myles Turner in a shooting session after having finished their warm-up with a Freed From Desire in the background music, it was also worth the detour.
-Senegal
