It’s Victor Wembanyama’s world — we’re just living in it. Two days removed from his latest otherworldly performance — a 41-point, 24-rebound gem to kick off the Western Conference finals — his San Antonio Spurs announced they’re headed back to his home country next season to play in Paris again.
The Spurs played the Indiana Pacers in the capital city twice last season, with the teams splitting a pair of blowouts. Midway through the 2026-27 campaign, San Antonio will head back to France to face the New Orleans Pelicans.
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The Spurs will square off against the Pelicans on Jan. 14, 2027. Then, three days later, a rematch will be held in Manchester, England, on Jan. 17, 2027.
“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,” NBA managing director for Europe and the Middle East, George Aivazoglou, said in the league’s release on Wednesday.
“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.”
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Notably, Paris and Manchester are cities that could host teams in NBA Europe, a league that could start as early as fall 2027.
The Spurs have long had an international draw. Wembanyama’s continued the lineage of standout foreign players starring for the franchise. The 7-foot-4 center is a Paris native. As a fledgling NBAer, he teased his potential in the Paris Olympics back in 2024. At the time, coming off an impressive rookie season with the Spurs, Wembanyama helped France to reach the gold-medal game, which Team USA wound up winning to maintain its Olympic reign. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick made an impression bigger than his alien-like frame, though.
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Now 22, Wembanyama is a two-time All-Star and the 2025-26 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He’s led the league in blocks three years in a row, and his offensive game is evolving exponentially, as evidenced by the deep 3 he hit to force double overtime in the Spurs’ Game 1 win on the road against the defending NBA champion Thunder on Monday.
Wembanyama is the focal point of a burgeoning Spurs team. His ties to Paris have factored into San Antonio’s dedicated presence in France. Earlier this season, the Spurs debuted “Spurs Week Paris,” bringing a retail pop-up shop, free youth clinics and a watch party, as well as other community offerings, directly to French fans.
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“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,” Spurs CEO RC Buford said in the league’s release.
“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 Spurs-Pelicans game in Manchester will mark the first NBA regular-season game in the city. The Pelicans will be playing their third and fourth games in Europe, and those will be their first in France and England.
They’re headlined by two-time All-Star Zion Williamson, who spearheads a young core that’s now overseen by former Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley.
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About three months before the Pelicans play in Paris, the city will welcome the NFL’s New Orleans Saints for an Oct. 25 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Together with the Saints playing in Paris next season, the opportunity for the Pelicans to play internationally in Paris and Manchester represents another significant step in strengthening our organization’s cultural and economic ties in these regions,” said Pelicans governor Gayle Benson, who also owns the Saints, per The Associated Press.
