In January 2025, Wembanyama appeared for Spurs in their games against the Indiana Pacers. Back then he was at the beginning of his NBA journey.
When he returns in 2027, it will be with the experience of NBA All-Star games as well as the Western Conference play-offs under his belt andNBA awards including rookie of the year and defensive player of the season in his trophy cabinet.
Following the game at the Accor Arena in Paris on 14 January, the Spurs and the Pelicans will reconvene at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on 17 January.
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'Interest growing'
Playing games in Paris and Manchester reflects the strong momentum were seeing for basketball and the NBA across Europe, said George Aivazoglou, NBA managing director for Europe and the Middle East.
As interest in the game continues to grow across the continent, we look forward to working with the Pelicans, the Spurs and our partners to deliver unique experiences for fans, aspiring players and the local communities."
The NBAParis Game 2027 will be the 16thgame featuring an NBA team in France since 1991 and the NBAs sixth regular-season game in Paris.
Two of the 20 games in England featuring NBA rosters have taken place in Manchester. However, none have been a regular-season tie.
Participating in these games in Paris and Manchester is an incredible opportunity for our organisation to proudly represent both the Pelicans franchise and the city of New Orleans on an international stage, saidJoe Dumars,the Pelicans' vice-president of basketball operations.
These games provide a unique platform to showcase our team, our culture and our community to global audiences. We are excited to help grow the game globally and connect with new generations ofbasketballfans.
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Community engagement
The Pelicans, who will be playing their third and fourth games in Europe and first in France and England, boast two-time NBA All-Star Zion Williamson, 2022 NBA All-Star Dejounte Murray and 2026 Rising Stars Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
In contrast, the Spurs are old hands on the European road, where they will be playing their 10th and 11th games.
As well as local hero Wembanyama, the Spurs will feature two-time NBA All-Star DeAaron Fox, the 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and 2026 Rising Star Dylan Harper.
Its an incredible honour to make our return to France and play our first game in England, given the strong embrace weve felt from the community and fans across Europe, said Spurs CEO RC Buford.
Bringing world-class basketball, community impact engagements and compelling fan activations to a European market, alongside the league, aligns directly with our organisations vision to unite our global audience through unforgettable experiences and a shared love of sports.
In addition to the games, the NBA, the Spurs and the Pelicans will carry out social impact programmes focused on health, wellness and sustainability. They will also run basketball clinics for young people as well as training programmes for coaches and referees.
Originally published on RFI
