Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs to Play in NBA Paris Games 2025
The two regular-season games are a homecoming for 2023 No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama
Posted On: April 30, 2024 By :The NBA Paris Games 2025 will feature Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs against the Indiana Pacers on January 23 and January 25, 2025, marking the first time the NBA will play two regular-season games in the French capital in the same season.
The Spurs have a strong history with international basketball since joining the NBA in 1976. More than 50 international players have suited up for the franchise, including seven from France. Most recently, the team’s 2023 NBA Draft class featured two French players – the No. 1 overall pick in Wembanyama and the No. 44 overall selection Sidy Cissoko.
The NBA Paris Games 2025 will mark the Spurs’ fourth and fifth games in France, having played two games in Paris (2003 and 2006) and one in Lyon (2006).
“Playing in Paris has been an incredible experience for our organization in the past and we are thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of The NBA Paris Games 2025,” said San Antonio Spurs Chief Executive Officer RC Buford. “Thanks to our deep international history, we are fortunate to have Spurs fans in France, across Europe and around the world. We are excited to continue to honor that legacy by purposefully connecting and engaging with our fans in France on and off the court.”
The games will be the first time the Pacers have been in France but not their first international exposure. The last time the Pacers played internationally was in 2019, when the team traveled to Mumbai to take on the Sacramento Kings in a preseason matchup in the first-ever NBA game played in India. The franchise has played nine international games in franchise history.
“The Pacers enjoy tremendous support from fans globally and we are excited about the opportunity to be a part of the NBA’s efforts to continue bringing the game to new generations of fans all around the world,” said Kevin Pritchard, Pacers president of basketball operations.
The 2025 Paris Games follow the 2023 showcase that featured the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons at the Accor Arena. Later this year, the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 will feature the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets in two preseason games on October 4 and October 6 in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
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