Fri Jan 24 15:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Wembanyama Returns Home as Spurs Face Pacers in Historic Paris Games

**PARIS, FRANCE** – The NBA is bringing its global spectacle to Paris this week, hosting two regular-season games between the San Antonio Spurs and the Indiana Pacers at the Accor Arena. This marks the first time the NBA has played two regular season games in the French capital in a single season, and the event is generating significant excitement, particularly due to the presence of French sensation Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama, the Spurs’ rookie phenom and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, will be playing on his home court for the first time in his NBA career. His presence has turned the games into a major event, drawing a record-breaking number of ticket sales from 53 countries and territories.

The matchup itself pits two teams on contrasting trajectories. The Pacers, boasting a strong 8-1 record in the new year and led by All-Stars Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Spurs, while showcasing Wembanyama’s impressive rookie season (averaging 24.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and a league-high 4.0 blocks), are currently 12th in the Western Conference. Haliburton expressed excitement about returning to Paris, though he acknowledged the likely home-crowd advantage for Wembanyama.

Beyond the game itself, the NBA’s presence in Paris underscores the league’s growing popularity in Europe. France, having produced a record-tying 14 NBA players this season, including two consecutive No. 1 overall draft picks (Wembanyama and Zaccharie Risacher), is a key market for the NBA’s international expansion.

The games will air on NBA TV and ESPN in the US and on various international channels, reaching fans in over 200 countries and territories. The first game tips off on Thursday, January 23rd, followed by a rematch on Saturday. For Wembanyama, the event represents not only a return to his roots but also a chance to solidify his place as one of the NBA’s rising stars on the global stage.

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