- San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers are playing two NBA regular-season games in Paris at the Accor Arena on Thursday night and Saturday night
France’s prodigal son Victor Wembanyama is ready to put on a show back on home soil as the NBA makes its annual pilgrimage to Paris this week.
For the first time in NBA Global Games history, there will be two regular-season games played in the French capital as the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers go head-to-head on Thursday and Saturday at the Accor Arena.
As soon as this was formally announced last April, the main narrative of this double-header has revolved around the talents of Wembanyama and the fervour he will bring playing competitively in his homeland.
Never before has the NBA had a young superstar returning to play in matches of this magnitude in Europe – helping to transcend the sport even further on this continent but adding extra pressure on the shoulders of the 7ft 4in San Antonio center.
However, despite his tender years, the 21-year-old and No 1 pick in the 2023 draft is unfazed about that – instead taking it in all in stride and relishing the opportunity that this week entails.
‘The way I approach this trip is my way of giving back a little to the French public, trying to please many people who will never have the chance to go to the United States.
All eyes are on Victor Wembanyama as San Antonio Spurs face Indiana Pacers in Paris

The 7ft 4in center will look to put on a show in front of his home crowd this week

The 21-year-old French star has a huge following in his homeland and is a role model there
‘There is a lot of excitement. It was even a bit surreal to see all my team-mates here where I spent so much time before [growing up]. It’s a bit like two worlds colliding. For now, it’s going well.
‘It’s a pride, but also a responsibility [of being in Paris]. In terms of sports, but also in terms of communication, the image of the Spurs, which has always been communicated. But the main thing is still sports.’
Despite both matches being played on neutral soil, the Accor Arena is set to be anything but with the majority inside the 15,609-capacity venue rooting for Wembanyama and therefore the Spurs.
‘We’ll see how it goes but there are a lot of emotions,’ Wembanyama continued when asked about stepping on court ahead of Thursday’s first showdown.
‘Playing in front of the French public, it galvanizes me but there’s no reason to overdo it.
‘I know that the public will be there and noisy, it’s certainly a strength that I will be able to use but it will only be a bonus.’
San Antonio will certainly need that ‘home-crowd’ boost with the Western Conference franchise on a three-game losing run to have a 19-22 record ahead of facing an in-form Pacers who are 24-19 by comparison.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk