The NBA’s Paris Game Set to be Special with Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers
It’s not Victor Wembanyama, but the NBA’s Paris game for this season stands to be special anyway. The league announced on Wednesday that the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers will play in Paris on January 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.
Required reading
(Photo: Wendell Cruz / USA Today)
In an exciting announcement, the NBA has revealed that the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers will be playing a regular-season game in Paris on January 11. This game holds special significance as it takes place just seven months before the city hosts the highly anticipated 2024 Olympics. The event is expected to be one of the most thrilling global basketball tournaments ever witnessed.
This will mark the third NBA regular-season game held in Paris, following last season’s match between the Pistons and Bulls. Notably, the San Antonio Spurs, who recently drafted French prodigy Victor Wembanyama, will not be participating in this game. However, they did play internationally last season in Mexico City. The Brooklyn Nets will showcase two current Team USA members, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, with Bridges being a strong contender for the Olympic team based on his performance in the FIBA World Cup roster this summer.
On the other hand, the Cleveland Cavaliers have two players, Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell, who declined to play for Team USA this summer due to personal reasons. Evan Mobley from the Cavaliers could potentially be a member of the American select team this summer.
The Paris Olympics are expected to feature a highly competitive men’s basketball tournament. Fans can look forward to witnessing some of the biggest American stars, including Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and possibly LeBron James, donning their national jerseys despite being in the later stages of their NBA careers. Additionally, the host country and other nations like Canada, Australia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Greece (if they qualify) are anticipated to field strong teams with NBA stars on their rosters.
Brooklyn’s last international appearance was in 2019 in China, during a controversial period in NBA history. The team found themselves embroiled in a political dispute after former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey expressed support for Hong Kong protesters in a tweet. This incident led to tensions with the Chinese government and restricted the Nets and Lakers to their hotel for most of the trip. As for the Cleveland Cavaliers, their last international appearance was in Rio de Janeiro in 2014 when LeBron James faced his former teammates on the Miami Heat.
In conclusion, the upcoming NBA game in Paris between the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers promises to be an extraordinary event. Taking place just months before the 2024 Olympics, basketball fans can expect a thrilling preview of the highly anticipated global tournament. With the participation of top NBA stars and strong teams from various countries, this game is sure to captivate audiences worldwide.