The NBA will deliver San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans to Europe for 2 regular-season video games in January 2027, the league announced Wednesday.
The groups will meet at Accor Area in Paris on January 14 earlier than touring to Manchester for a second recreation at Co-op Stay on January 17. The Paris matchup would be the NBA’s sixth regular-season recreation within the French capital, whereas Manchester will host its first NBA regular-season contest.
The announcement continues the league’s aggressive worldwide growth technique and locations one among basketball’s largest world stars, Victor Wembanyama, again in entrance of a home-country viewers. The Spurs heart is coming off a 2025-26 season by which he won NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors and helped San Antonio safe the No. 2 seed within the Western Convention at 62-20.
San Antonio at present leads the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 1-0 within the Western Convention Finals after a 122-115 road win in Game 1. The Spurs roster additionally options De’Aaron Fox, 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the 12 months Stephon Citadel and rookie guard Dylan Harper.
For the Spurs, the Paris recreation carries extra significance due to Wembanyama’s connection to France. The franchise has already performed 5 video games within the nation, greater than another NBA staff, and the 2027 occasion will mark its sixth look there.
The Pelicans will probably be making their first appearances in each France and England. Zion Williamson headlines New Orleans’ roster alongside Dejounte Murray and younger prospects Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
New Orleans struggled by means of a 26-56 season in 2025-26 and missed the playoffs, however the group stays one of many league’s extra marketable worldwide attracts due to Williamson’s profile and the franchise’s fast-paced fashion.
The NBA mentioned each occasions are a part of its multiyear European slate and can embrace group outreach, youth clinics, referee and training improvement applications, and fan activations in each cities.
The Paris recreation will change into the sixteenth NBA recreation performed in France since 1991. The Manchester matchup would be the twentieth NBA recreation held in England since 1993 and the primary regular-season NBA recreation ever performed within the metropolis.
