The San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans will play regular-season games in France and England in 2027.
The Southwest Division foes will clash in Paris on Jan. 14 and Manchester on Jan. 17, the NBA announced Wednesday.
The contests will be the league’s 16th in France and sixth in Paris since 1991, and its 20th in England and second in Manchester since 1993.
The return to Paris also marks the first time that Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio star, will play in his home nation with his NBA team.
“Playing games in Paris and Manchester reflects the strong momentum we’re seeing for basketball and the NBA in France, the UK and across Europe,” said George Aivazoglou, NBA managing director, Europe and 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 Spurs will be playing their 10th and 11th games in Europe, including their sixth in France and first in England.
“It’s an incredible honor to make our return to France and play our first-ever game in England, given the strong embrace we’ve felt from the community and fans across Europe,” said RC Buford, CEO of the Spurs. “Bringing world-class basketball, community impact engagements and compelling fan activations to a European market, alongside the league, aligns directly with our organization’s vision to unite our global audience through unforgettable experiences and a shared love of sports.”
The Pelicans will play their third and fourth games in Europe and their first in both France and England.
“Participating in these games in Paris and Manchester is an incredible opportunity for our organization to proudly represent both the Pelicans franchise and the City of New Orleans on an international stage,” said Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars. “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.”
Led by MVP finalist Wembanyama, San Antonio (62-20) won the division this season and took three out of four games against New Orleans (26-56) and two-time All-Star forward Zion Williamson.
–Field Level Media
