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ESPN staff
The Chicago Bulls defeated the Detroit Pistons, 126-108, in Paris for the NBA’s second-ever regular-season game in France.
Perhaps no one was more excited than Pistons guard Killian Hayes, who grew up in France and played professional basketball for Cholet Basket.
“I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Hayes said, per NBA.com. “There are 30 [NBA] teams, and we’re fortunate enough that they picked the Pistons to go [to France]. I’m very happy to go back home and enjoy an NBA game with my friends and family in attendance.”
While Bulls-Pistons doesn’t have the same vitriol as it did in the late ’80s and early ’90s, there was still plenty to see in the City of Lights — including French basketball phenom Victor Wembanyama being in attendance.
Here are some of the sights and sounds from the NBA’s return to Paris:
Wemby in the house
🇫🇷 @vicw_32 in the building for #NBAParis! pic.twitter.com/PkKxp801xA
— NBA (@NBA) January 19, 2023
🏀 @vicw_32 x @MagicJohnson#NBAParis pic.twitter.com/BzuM0Tts4Z
— NBA (@NBA) January 19, 2023
Sideline stars
LIL BABY IN THE HOUSE! #PistonsinParis #NBAParis pic.twitter.com/jg1eZjnhrz
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 19, 2023
Naomi Campbell & IB Kamara in the Off-White™ c/o Chicago Bulls varsity in Paris 👀 pic.twitter.com/8F4kjbNbEO
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 19, 2023
These familiar faces are getting a DET
home game experience. #NBAParis pic.twitter.com/IEuJzrr6rI— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 19, 2023
🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️@KhabyLame x @bennythebull pic.twitter.com/SxPrDc1hQr
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 19, 2023
Some Bulls nostalgia
Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Bulls were in Paris during their 1997-98 NBA title run and the team recreated their photo in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Bulls in Paris. 26 years apart 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/BouctHjpyp
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 19, 2023
The excuse notes
dropping this here just in case you need it pic.twitter.com/ehTkrEs3Qw
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 19, 2023
We approve this message. https://t.co/FqbSY5cEO5 pic.twitter.com/CFQG3dAFOl
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 19, 2023
A Parisian proposal
Bulls small forward Derrick Jones Jr. proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Sherry, on the trip.
Engaged in Paris ❤️💍🇫🇷 https://t.co/cRboBaP2oy pic.twitter.com/9Yy9g5eN2G
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 18, 2023
DET meets PSG
Pistons shooting guard Hamidou Diallo visited the Paris Saint-Germain Youth Academy.
🏀🤝⚽️@hamidoudiallo visits the @PSG_English Academy training grounds. pic.twitter.com/GovgFK8jek
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 17, 2023
Buckets in Paris
Bulls and Pistons players posed for photos at the Eiffel Tower upon arrival.
The photos 🤩 https://t.co/QSxxAgh3cQ pic.twitter.com/wSnk6Qixv5
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 17, 2023
Bucket getters at the Eiffel Tower. pic.twitter.com/oiGlp25s1P
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 18, 2023