Darius Pollock, a 20-year-old Parisian, can often be found shooting 3-pointers on a court behind the centuries-old Saint Paul church near Place de la Bastille. He is just one of many players who grace the courts of the French capital daily, reflecting a surge in basketball’s popularity in France.
Rise of Victor Wembanyama to NBA stardom
This growing enthusiasm is largely fueled by the rise of Victor Wembanyama to NBA stardom. “It has unlocked something in France,” Pollock notes, capturing the sentiment of many. Basketball’s appeal is climbing rapidly and is expected to reach new heights during the upcoming Paris Olympics, with heightened expectations for the French men’s team.
France has a storied history of producing top NBA talent. Tony Parker, a four-time NBA champion, is perhaps the most famous, with his No. 9 jersey retired by the San Antonio Spurs. Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves recently clinched the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. However, the current wave of talent is exceptional. Last year, Wembanyama went No. 1 in the NBA draft. This year, Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr are anticipated to be top picks, possibly even the first and second selections, with Tidjane Salaün also projected to be a high first-round pick.
Antonin Guezel, a local basketball player, expressed pride in these achievements, noting that they make the NBA dream seem attainable. “Some of these talents grew up here, Victor is from the Paris area,” he told The Associated Press.
While female French players have not yet made a significant impact on the WNBA, their presence is growing. In April’s draft, Carla Leite and Leila Lacan were selected by Dallas and Connecticut, respectively.
Guezel, 21, refined his skills at Glacière, an outdoor court nestled under an overhead subway station in the 13th arrondissement, one of many such courts across Paris. There are about 750,000 registered basketball players in France, an increase of nearly 70,000 from two years ago and 170,000 since 2014. This figure only captures those officially registered; many more play informally, echoing the culture of street basketball in the United States.
Basketball’s impact on the youth
Sports historian Lindsay Krasnoff observes that basketball, or “le Basket,” has never been more popular in France. “On all the courts I pass now, there is always someone playing,” she says, adding that teenagers wearing NBA jerseys and carrying basketballs are now a common sight in Paris.
One popular court is behind Halle Carpentier, near the Saint-Martin canal. Here, players wait their turn for 4-on-4 games, with winners determined by reaching 21 points, or 16 on busier days. This court’s close fences and intense playstyle resemble New York City’s iconic West 4th Street courts, where trash-talking is common, and fouls are rarely called.
“If you call a foul here, you are weak. So you shut your mouth,” says Lina Redjem, the only woman among more than 30 players waiting to get on the court.
As basketball’s popularity in Paris continues to rise, the city’s courts remain vibrant hubs of athleticism and community, reflecting the sport’s growing significance in French culture.