The NBA made it official that the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs will play regular-season games in Paris, France, on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2027, and in Manchester, England, on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027.
The showdown in France brings with it extra excitement in part due to New Orleans’ French connection. There also is one other obvious tie-in with Spurs superstar, Victor Wembanyama, playing in front of his home country.
As if it isn’t going to be difficult enough for the Pelicans to try and stop San Antonio, it’s very likely the game in Paris’ Accor Arena will feel like a home game for the Spurs due to Wembanyama’s French ties. Wemby was born in Le Chesnay, France and has represented France in various international tournaments, including the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Maybe the Pelicans can acquire a French player or two this offseason to try and tip the scales more in their favor. Are the Atlanta Hawks ready to give up on former first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher? We can surely bat around some trade ideas.
New Orleans has a strong French history
Even if the Pelicans travel to Paris without any French players, the Crescent City has deep French roots and still retains much of its French-infused heritage.
You can witness New Orleans’ French architecture for yourself if you visit the French Quarter, which includes Bourbon Street. The city is also filled with plenty of French cuisine, including the French Market. And let’s not forget Mardi Gras, which is translated to “Fat Tuesday” in French.
The NBA Paris Game is the 16th game featuring an NBA team in France since 1991 and the league’s sixth regular-season game in Paris. The Pelicans will become just the ninth team to play a regular season game in France.
For Pelicans fans this is an exciting opportunity to see their team on the world stage. For the last few years, the Pelicans have had trouble even getting on the national stage. Unfortunately, the allure of Zion Williamson has worn off. However, watching two superstars like Williamson and Wembanyama on the world stage will be a lot of fun.
This game will be a lot better if the Pelicans can figure out how to put a winning team on the court. As long as Wemby stays healthy, the Spurs will be good once again. While the excitement of seeing the Pelicans and Spurs play in France will be enough on its own, watching two winning teams play who are also rivals makes it an even more tantalizing show.
The Spurs will be playing their sixth game in France, that along with Wemby playing at home, will likely make San Antonio the favorite in front of the French crowd. However, it will be interesting to see what kind of fan reaction the Pelicans get with New Orleans’ French connection.
Either way, mark your calendars for Jan. 14, 2027 because the Pelicans and Spurs are set for a must-see French faceoff.
Add us as a preferred source on Google