The NBA’s Paris Game Set to be a Special Event
It’s not Victor Wembanyama, but the NBA’s Paris game for this season stands to be special anyway. The league announced Wednesday that the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers will play in Paris on Jan. 11, about seven months before the city hosts the 2024 Olympics — and with it perhaps the most anticipated global basketball tournament ever.
This will be the third NBA regular-season game in Paris. The Pistons and Bulls played there last season.
In perhaps a bit of a surprise, the San Antonio Spurs, who drafted 19-year-old French sensation Wembanyama first last month, are not included in this game, but the Spurs played internationally last season in Mexico City. The Nets will have two current Team USA members on the floor in January — Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson — and Bridges is an early favorite to make the Olympic team from the FIBA World Cup roster this summer.
The Cavs, meanwhile, have at least two players who passed on playing for Team USA this summer: Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell. Both decided not to play for personal reasons, the NBA said. Cleveland’s Evan Mobley could be a member of the Americans’ select team (secondary roster) this summer.
The Paris Olympics are expected to feature a men’s basketball tournament in which some of the biggest American stars, such as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and possibly even LeBron James, could suit up despite being in the advanced stages of their NBA careers. The host country is also expected to field an extremely strong team, as are the Canadians, Australians, Slovenians, Serbians, and Greeks (if they qualify for Paris) — all with NBA stars on their rosters.
Brooklyn last played overseas in 2019 in China — during an infamous period in league history when former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey sent a tweet in support of Hong Kong protesters while the Nets and Lakers were on their way to Shanghai, angering the Chinese government and basically trapping the two teams in their hotel for most of the trip. Cleveland’s last international appearance was in Rio de Janeiro in 2014 when LeBron James rejoined the team and immediately faced his former teammates on the Miami Heat.
With the announcement of the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers playing in Paris on January 11, basketball fans around the world are eagerly anticipating this special event. The game will take place just seven months before the city hosts the 2024 Olympics, making it even more exciting for both players and fans alike.
This will mark the third NBA regular-season game in Paris, following last season’s matchup between the Pistons and Bulls. While it may come as a surprise that the San Antonio Spurs, who recently drafted French sensation Victor Wembanyama, are not included in this game, they did have an international appearance last season in Mexico City. However, fans can still expect a star-studded lineup from both the Nets and Cavaliers.
The Brooklyn Nets will have two current Team USA members on the floor in January, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson. Bridges is considered an early favorite to make the Olympic team from the FIBA World Cup roster this summer. On the other hand, the Cleveland Cavaliers have players like Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell, who decided not to play for Team USA this summer due to personal reasons. Additionally, Evan Mobley of the Cavaliers could potentially be a member of the Americans’ select team this summer.
The Paris Olympics are expected to showcase a highly competitive men’s basketball tournament. Fans can anticipate seeing some of the biggest American stars, including Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and possibly even LeBron James, donning their national jerseys despite being in the later stages of their NBA careers. The host country, France, is also expected to field a formidable team, along with other nations like Canada, Australia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Greece (if they qualify), all of which boast NBA stars on their rosters.
Both the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers have had previous international appearances. The Nets last played overseas in 2019 in China, during a controversial period when former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey’s tweet supporting Hong Kong protesters angered the Chinese government. This incident resulted in the teams being confined to their hotel for most of the trip. The Cavaliers’ last international appearance was in Rio de Janeiro in 2014 when LeBron James faced his former teammates on the Miami Heat after rejoining the team.
In conclusion, the upcoming NBA game in Paris between the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers is set to be a momentous event. With the 2024 Olympics just around the corner, basketball fans can expect an electrifying atmosphere as some of the biggest names in the sport showcase their skills on an international stage. Whether it’s witnessing Team USA members in action or seeing the host country and other nations with NBA stars compete, this game promises to be a thrilling preview of what’s to come in the highly anticipated global basketball tournament.