French basketball phenomenon Victor Wembanyama will unleash his magic before adoring home fans for the second time in three years after NBA chiefs on Wednesday confirmed his San Antonio Spurs team will line up next January for a regular-season game in Paris against the New Orleans Pelicans.
In January 2025, Wembanyama appeared for the Spurs in their games against against the Indiana Pacers.
Then he was at the start of his NBA journey. Barring injury, when he returns in 2027, he will glitter with the experience of NBA All-Star games as well as the Western Conference play-offs.
A clutch of top NBA awards including rookie of the year and defensive player of the season have also been added to 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, north-western England, on 17 January.
“Playing games in Paris and Manchester reflects the strong momentum we’re seeing for basketball and the NBA across Europe,” said George Aivazoglou, the NBA managing diirector for Europe and Middle East.
'Interest growing'
“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,” he added.
The NBA Paris Game 2027 will be the 16th game featuring an NBA team in France since 1991 and the NBA’s 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,” said Joe Dumars, the Pelicans' executive vice-president of basketball operations.
“These games provide a unique platform to showcase our team, our culture and our community to global audiences while building meaningful relationships with fans, partners and communities abroad.
'Excited to help grow the game'
"We are grateful to be part of the NBA’s continued international growth efforts, and we are excited to help grow the game globally and connect with new generations of basketball fans.”
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.
By contrast, the Spurs are old hands on the European road where they will be playing their 10th and 11th games.
As well as the local hero Wembanyama, the Spurs will feature two-time NBA All-Star De’Aaron Fox, the 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and 2026 Rising Star Dylan Harper.
“It’s an incredible honour to make our return to France and play our first game in England, given the strong embrace we’ve 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 organisation’s 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 conduct social impact programmes focused on health, wellness and sustainability.
They will also run basketball clinics for youngsters as well as training programmers to develop coaches and referees.
