NANTERRE, France (AP) 鈥� Officially, Indiana will be the home team on the scoreboard when it plays San Antonio in Paris on Thursday.
The Pacers know better. They will not be feeling right at home.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a big crowd against us, honestly,鈥� Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard said.
He鈥檚 not wrong, for one 7-foot-4 reason. The upcoming NBA Paris Games 鈥� Indiana vs. San Antonio on Thursday and Saturday, the Pacers being the designated home team for the first matchup and the Spurs getting that distinction for the second game 鈥� are essentially going to be a weeklong celebration of France鈥檚 own Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio鈥檚 reigning NBA rookie of the year who likely will be an All-Star this season for the first time.
In other words, welcome to Wemby Week in Paris.
The teams arrived in Paris on Monday, with practices and other events scheduled throughout the week and then the games toward the end. The Spurs were coming straight from the airport to a light workout in Nanterre 鈥� on the court that Wembanyama called home when started his pro career in the French league as a 15-year-old.
鈥淚t was even a bit surreal to see all my teammates in this arena where I spent so much time,鈥� Wembanyama said after the workout, which was viewed by a few dozen kids from a local basketball club 鈥� all wearing Spurs T-shirts with his name and jersey number. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit like two worlds colliding. For now, it鈥檚 going well. In any case, it鈥檚 really extremely pleasant. There is emotion.鈥�
There have been single games in Paris in each of the last two seasons 鈥� Chicago-Detroit in 2023, Brooklyn-Cleveland last year 鈥� but this season, it鈥檚 a two-game trip and Wembanyama is surely one of the reasons for that.
Ticket demand was off the charts. The games sold out in a day. Some tickets remain as part of packages; for example, a game ticket for Thursday, including a chance to grab a picture with the Larry O鈥橞rien Trophy, will set you back $730. Flight not included, of course.
Then again, not everyone in attendance will have bought their tickets. Wembanyama arranged a treasure hunt for 10 tickets; there were QR codes hidden in five cities 鈥� Paris, Lyon, Lille, Marseille and Bordeaux 鈥� and he encouraged fans to start hunting.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 come back to the capital without giving you the opportunity to come see me play,鈥� he wrote on social media.
The Spurs are a global brand with deep ties to France that pre-date . Tony Parker and Boris Diaw helped the Spurs establish that relationship with France during their years in Spurs colors, and now the interest can be marked in plenty of ways off the court as well. Last week, the Spurs announced a series of events for this week in collaboration with Paris-Saint Germain, one of the world鈥檚 most-followed soccer teams.
鈥淲e have a long history with France for obvious reasons in many ways. So, it鈥檚 just another milestone or opportunity, I think, to probably strengthen that bond or connection,鈥� Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson said. 鈥淰ery cool for Vic. Obviously, he just got done in the Olympics as well.鈥�
France played host to the Paris Games last summer and Wembanyama helped his home nation get to the gold-medal game against the U.S. He was spectacular in the final, scoring 26 points. It wasn鈥檛 enough, not with with 24 for the Americans 鈥� in the final couple of minutes to clinch the gold.
that night. The games this week are in the same arena as the Olympic final was. He was asked earlier this season how often he thinks about this trip and getting to play in Paris again.
鈥淎ll the time,鈥� he said.
And now, it's finally here. It's happening. Wembanyama has a busy week ahead 鈥� but game days will solely be game days, per his customs. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday can be about seeing old friends and giving back to his homeland, but in his mind, Thursday and Saturday will solely be about the Spurs trying to beat the Pacers.
鈥淭he 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,鈥� he said Monday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really important to me. We arrived a few hours ago, but it鈥檚 already incredible.鈥�
Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was on that U.S. Olympic team that won gold last summer. He knows what that arena felt like and can envision what it鈥檒l be like for Wembanyama鈥檚 return this week.
鈥淭he game has never seen anybody like him,鈥� Haliburton said.
The Spurs played in Miami on Sunday and lost, then stuck around for a few hours to have some dinner and get their body clocks right for the 8-hour flight from South Florida to France. The Pacers were heading to do some sightseeing after landing Monday, including the Eiffel Tower.
鈥淎ll that good stuff,鈥� Pacers center Myles Turner said in a video released by the team.
Paris has been waiting. And Wemby will be welcomed back like a conquering hero.
鈥淚 think any time anybody gets to play (or) perform back home, especially when that鈥檚 not something you do consistently or regularly, it鈥檚 a pretty cool opportunity,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚鈥檓 sure there鈥檒l be people at the game that haven鈥檛 seen him play in a long time or typically maybe never have. You know, hometown kids get to see you 鈥� maybe they鈥檝e never been to an NBA game. So, I know there鈥檚 a lot of things, not to speak for him, that I鈥檓 sure he鈥檚 looking forward to and that are unique in a very, very cool way for him to connect.鈥�
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AP Sports Writer Michael Marot in Indianapolis contributed.
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AP NBA:
Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press
