This Tuesday, through the NBA Extra program broadcast on BeIN Sports, the NBA announced its big return to French soil. On January 19, 2023, Bulls and Pistons will face each other under the floodlights of the Accor Arena in Bercy, as part of a regular season match. Three years following the arrival of Giannis Antetokounmpo, here is a breath of fresh air.
DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Cade Cunningham, Nikola Vucevic, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey and… Killian Hayes. The score sheet is awesome. Some may fail us – like Tony Parker who retired in the summer of 2019, seven months before the Hornets moved to Paris – but we repeat ourselves: the score sheet is awesome. As for ticketing, a registration link is available to access presales. As for the Bucks – Hornets of January 24, 2020, the places are likely to go full balloons, for a price… Parisian. Hoping – vainly, but hoping – that the front row isn’t crowded with influencers who think they’ve come to see Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Well, it’s business. This Paris Game 2023 promises to be tiptop, especially since Isiah Thomas and many other legends will probably be there. As a good Pistons fan that he is – and three years following performing the Marseillaise on the electric guitar, in front of the whole world – Waxx was chosen as ambassador for this event. Big news for him, and eight months of positive propaganda to come.
“You’re going to see a young and exciting team playing Pistons basketball! You will be able to see one of the teams of the future of the NBA. –Isiah Thomas, to Rémi Reverchon on BeIN Sports
The last time the Bulls played in Paris, Artūras Karnišovas was there too . . . pic.twitter.com/xKG0O4Fcqr
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 24, 2022
What to expect in terms of the face of this meeting? The Bulls should approach the 2022-23 season with big ambitions, namely to qualify rather largely in the Playoffs, and try this time to pass a round. In any case, they have the gear for. Zach LaVine’s big contract has expired, be careful – for us – to extend it properly. Piston side, the pleasure of welcoming Killian Hayes is immeasurable. The last time the former Cholet player played in the Accor Arena was in May 2017, in the Final of the Coupe de France U17. A feast for the eyes – made of a small bridge and blocks at high altitude – that we just slide you ICI. And then, his new teammates are not the local seniors: Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and… a future 5th draft pick! The media enthusiasm around the event promises to be great to follow. This announcement makes approximately 66,999,999 million happy… and one disappointed. We don’t know, but Evan Fournier doesn’t seem super happy with the choice of teams for this new edition of the Paris Game.
CMON MAN!!!!!!!!???????????????????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/rr9ecGnVf6
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) May 24, 2022
What a relief. The COVID period is behind us, the beautiful days are coming back. See you on January 19, 2023 – on TV or in the room – to enjoy, all together, this great evening that is coming up.
