Wembanyama hosts the NBA in Paris

The NBA shone this Thursday in the City of Light. Three years after the last one (Milwaukee Bucks-Charlotte Hornets) due to the COVID pandemic, which left the world in hiatus in 2020, the more than 15,000 fans who packed the Accore Arena were able to enjoy the second official game ever in France in the NBA, 11th in Europe and 34th outside the United States and Canada. A Chicago Bulls-Detroit Pistons that ended with a victory for the former against the evicted Michigan franchise (108-126).

Dwane Casey’s team, in full reconstruction and with Cade Cunningham, their great promise for the future, out for the remainder of the season due to injury, added their 36th loss of the season in 48 games. It is the second worst team in the entire NBA with just 25% winning. Behind, only the Houston Rockets remain, who have won only 22.2% of the games played.

Bad times that already extend too long in time: in the last 13 seasons they have only qualified twice for the playoffs. And in the past 15 seasons, they’ve been to 50% or more three times. A blow to the ego of MoTown, who was looking with greedy eyes at one of the fans in the pavilion: Victor Wembanyama, a unique species, an alien 221 centimeters tall (231 wingspan) capable of moving around the court like a point guard and scoring easily from any position on the field. magic johnson the legend laker and from the League, gave him a hug and Adam Silver, commissioner of the League, had his picture taken with him. Many blessings. High hopes.

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Wembanyama is a player never seen before, so expected in the NBA that until his games with the Metropolitans 92 in Paris, which he arrived after leaving Asvel and the Euroleague for security (fear of a possible injury), are issued by the League Pass of the North American League. Since LeBron James (and perhaps Zion Williamson), no youngster has garnered as much attention on the other side of the Atlantic.

But until it arrives, the stars that shone in Paris like NBA banners were Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, who closed the duel with 30 and 28 points, respectively, for some Bulls that unbalanced the Pistons at the end of the second quarter. With the arrival of the third, the distances opened up and, above all, the level of superiority of a team that tries to cling to the play-in of the Eastern Conference.