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The Chicago Bulls visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris before an NBA game. – CHICAGO BULLS
The NBA returns to Paris on Thursday for the first time in three years amid optimism in France that the men’s national team can win Olympic gold ahead of next year.
Tickets to see the Chicago Bulls face the Detroit Pistons at Accor Arena sold out in minutes and the build-up to the game was “crazy in the best way,” said George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s head of fan engagement for Europe and Central. east.
“France has an incredible basketball culture and over the years has developed great players, great clubs and a great national team,” Aivazoglou told Reuters.
“It’s really part of the DNA of the sport.”
This game can take you around the world. DeMar DeRozan what it means to grow up in the international game. #NBAParis
Download the NBA App for more: https://t.co/adJBylHjyx pic.twitter.com/SQaUWSgmoO
— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2023
The French men’s team won their third Olympic silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 after nearly upsetting the United States in the final and will be looking to get on the podium in front of their own fans at next year’s Olympics.
France’s loaded squad may include Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert, New York Knicks sharpshooter Evan Fournier and Pistons guard Killian Hayes, but the star attraction is Victor Wembanyama.
The 7-foot-4 native center Le Chesnay is the most coveted prospect since LeBron James and is expected to be selected first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, possibly by the struggling Pistons.
“He’s one of the greatest prospects in decades if not among the greatest of all time,” Aivazoglou said.
“Basketball is a sport that the French love and Wembanyama only adds to it.”
After a long absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league said it will not wait another three years before returning to the French capital.
“We are looking at where we want to play our regular season games next year and we anticipate that it is very, very likely that we will return to Paris,” said Aivazoglou.
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