By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
In less than one month, Paris Basketball will enter a new era, playing for the first time in front of its fans in the newest Adidas Arena on February 11 against Saint-Quentin in the LNB. Thanks to reportage from L’Équipe, the new basketball home for the French capital’s team has been unveiled.
Paris Basketball’s owner and former Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn is excited about the new arena for the French side. “It will be the best basketball hall in Europe because it is intimate. Look at that seat up there. We could say that it is the furthest away, that it is not a good place. But if someone sat there right now, you could see their face clearly and wave to them. Here, every spectator will feel close to the field”, he said.
Moving to such an innovative arena with 8.000 filling the stands, a new “revolution” will start according to David Khan. Thus far, the team has been playing in the Accor Arena – which also hosted the NBA Paris Game between Brooklyn and Cleveland – and in the Halle Georges Carpentier. They’ve also played some games also at Roland-Garros.
Tuomas Iisalo’s team is 1st in the BKT EuroCup Group A with a 13-1 record, already qualified for the Playoffs. In the LNB, instead, they’re 3rd with a 12-5 record – tied with ASVEL – only behind JL Bourg-en-Bresse (13-5) and AS Monaco (16-1).
Ahead of a potential future in the EuroLeague, David Khan asked for patience. “It is important that we move forward in the most responsible way possible for the club, its supporters, and the city of Paris. And this responsibility implies not doing anything financially speaking. It would be irresponsible to join the Euroleague for reasons of pride and ego, even if it means losing money. There is a time for everything”, the president commented.
PHOTO CREDIT: BKT EuroCup