The Spurs will face the Indiana Pacers in video games on January 23 and 25. Each matches shall be out there at no cost on KENS 5, the official Spurs station.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs are within the midst of their finest season in a number of years, at the moment positioned to at the very least attain the NBA Western Convention play-in event.
A lot of this success is because of the improvement of French celebrity Victor Wembanyama.
Wemby, the No. 1 decide within the 2023 NBA Draft, is having among the finest sophomore seasons ever, averaging 24.4 factors, 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4 .0 blocks per recreation main the league on the age of 21.
The one different participant to submit these stats over a season? Arguably the best middle of all time, Kareem Abdul Jabbarwho was 28 when he had related stats en path to his fourth MVP title.
Are you aware what Kareem wasn’t doing? Hitting 3.2 three-pointers per recreation at 7’3″.
Wemby’s 4.0 blocks per recreation can be the best common for the reason that late Dikembe Mutombo had 4.5 blocks per recreation within the 1995-96 season, eight years earlier than Wemby was born.
Principally, Wemby’s future appears to be like greater than vivid in his second season.
Similar to the way forward for French basketball.
The rise of French gamers within the NBA
France (14 gamers) is the second most represented non-American nation within the NBA behind Canada (21 gamers). This equals the document for the best variety of French gamers within the NBA at a given time.
The league’s French gamers embrace confirmed veterans like former DPOY Rudy Gobert and journeyman Nicolas Batum. The Washington Wizards themselves have two younger French stars: 2023 No. 2 total decide Alex Sarr and 2023 No. 7 total decide Bilal Coulibaly. (Satirically, the Wizards had been the workforce Wembanyama had his first 50-point recreation towards.)
However what’s actually telling is the variety of extremely drafted French gamers lately.
The No. 1 total decide (Zaccharie Risacher) and No. 2 total decide (Sarr) within the 2024 NBA draft had been each French. (To not point out decide #6 total Tidjane Salaun and decide #25 total Pacome Dadiet)
With Wemby changing into No. 1 in 2023, that is the second consecutive yr {that a} French participant has change into No. 1 whereas there has by no means been a French participant drafted first in NBA historical past .
This pattern exhibits how French actors have change into a scorching commodity. Even Guerschon Yabusele, who final performed within the NBA through the 2019 season, discovered his approach again into the league after a powerful Olympic efficiency in his house nation final summer time.
Talking of the Olympics, let’s simply say there is a motive France gained the silver medal, dropping to the USA within the gold medal recreation.
We will say that French basketball is on the rise.
Spurs in France vs. Indiana
For such causes and Wemby’s continued rise to stardom, the NBA determined to offer the Spurs two video games in Paris this season as a part of the NBA Paris Video games 2025, each towards the Indiana Pacers.
The matches will happen on January 23 (1 p.m. CST on KENS 5) and January 25 (11 a.m. CST on KENS 5) at Accor Enviornment. That is the primary time that the NBA will play two common season video games in Paris throughout the identical season.
This isn’t the primary time that Spurs have performed in France. In 2003, they performed a preseason recreation in Paris towards Memphis, and in 2006, they performed two exhibition video games in Paris and Lyon towards non-NBA opponents.
The distinction this time round is that these video games are a part of the common season towards a scorching Indiana Pacers workforce recent off an look within the Japanese Convention Finals.
The Spurs may even host two watch events for the January 25 recreation; one in San Antonio and one in Austin.
The San Antonio social gathering will happen at Rock at La Cantera, situated at 1 Spurs Manner. The Fan Fest watch social gathering begins at 9:30 a.m., about an hour and a half earlier than the announcement (11:00 a.m.). It will likely be hosted by Zay Zay with music by DJ Quake. There shall be French pastries and mimosas, whereas the primary 100 followers in Spurs gear aged over 21 will obtain a drink ticket for a mimosa. All ages are welcome.
The Austin social gathering will happen at Armadillo Den, situated at 10106 Menchaca Rd. The watch social gathering will start at 10:30 a.m., half-hour earlier than tipoff. Music shall be supplied by DJ DMoney and free espresso, macaroons, French pastries and desserts shall be provided. This occasion is reserved for ages 21 and over.
To study extra about watch events, textual content PARIS to 210-444-5940 or on-line at Spurs.com/Paris.
Different Spurs connections to France
Spurs had been a seemingly clear selection for these video games, not simply due to Wemby, who hails from Chesnay, France. San Antonio has had a weak point for the French for some time.
Former Spurs star Tony Parker is without doubt one of the hottest French gamers in NBA historical past. He gained 4 championships with the Silver & Black, together with Finals MVP in 2007. These accomplishments, along with being a six-time All-Star, led to the retirement of his quantity 9 by the Spurs in 2019. In 2023, he’s the primary French participant to be inducted into the Naismith Corridor of Fame.
French striker Boris Diaw was an necessary participant in Spurs’ rotation through the dominant 2014 championship alongside Parker.
Different French gamers who’ve worn Spurs colours embrace Ian Mahinmi, Joffrey Lauvergne, Nando De Colo and at the moment Sidy Cissoko.
One other enjoyable connection between France and the Spurs is the 1995 movie Overlook Paris with Billy Crystal and Debra Winger. The movie tells the story of an NBA referee, performed by Crystal, who meets an American Airways govt whereas in Paris to bury his father.
Spurs legends David Robinson and Sean Elliott make appearances in a scene the place Crystal’s character makes a controversial name that leads the Spurs to win a playoff recreation towards Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns.
(Viewer’s discretion: The next clip comprises NSFW language.)
So for instance that it will most likely not be the final time that the NBA stops in France, as the way forward for French basketball is extra promising than ever.
Who is aware of, possibly Tony Parker will not be the one French Spurs participant to win the Finals MVP trophy.
To search out out extra in regards to the Paris 2025 Video games, Click on right here.
