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Paris Basketball is exploring a high-profile coaching addition as the club prepares for the next chapter of its project. Paris is in talks with former NBA head coach Dave Joerger, sources tell ESPN's Olgun Uluc and BasketNews. The 52-year-old Minnesota native has been exploring opportunities outside the NBA and is widely expected around the market to emerge as Paris' next bench leader.
Paris is currently coached by 28-year-old Julius Thomas, who took over the team mid-season. However, BasketNews sources indicate that Thomas is expected to leave the organization this summer and is exploring opportunities to join an NBA coaching staff. Former Minnesota Timberwolves executive David Kahn oversees basketball operations in Paris, while the organization has established a growing reputation as a pathway between European basketball and the NBA.
A nine-time NBA champion in the French capital? For a few weeks, Paris believed it. As confirmed to L'Équipe , Steve Kerr, the coach with five championship rings as a player (from 1996 to 1998 with Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, in 1999 and in 2003 with the San Antonio Spurs), then four as coach of Golden State (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022), considered the prospect. Even though the hypothesis never turned into formal negotiation, with the Beirut native ultimately signing a two-year extension with the Warriors, the mere idea of imagining such a strong personality in the world of basketball, still active in the NBA, a key piece in one of its dynasties, is dizzying.
Maxime Aubin: Mitch Johnson is delighted about the Spurs' return to Paris in January 2027: "I'm sure it will be a wonderful experience. Honestly, I'm not quite there yet in my thinking (smile), but I'm always thrilled to contribute to the international reach of the game and to be part of this great adventure that is playing abroad."
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The NBA's two regular season games in Europe next January will be in Paris and Manchester and The Stein Line has learned that Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs — for obvious reasons — have been selected to headline the trip. Spurs vs. Pelicans, I'm told, is the expected pairing for the two-game series.
Orlando and Memphis split this season's two Europe games in Berlin in London. Berlin and Paris are scheduled to serve as host cities for the two-game tour in 2028. The NBA, of course, continues to target the 2027-28 season as its launch date for a 12-to-16 team NBA Europe circuit that would be separate from #thisleague. Wemby and the Spurs played two games against Indiana in Paris in January 2025 on the NBA's last in-season visit to France.
France has been officially announced as the host nation for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2031, marking a major milestone for international basketball and reinforcing the country’s growing reputation as a global hub for major sporting events. The tournament will be staged across three iconic cities—Paris, Lille, and Lyon—bringing world-class basketball action to some of France’s most vibrant urban centers. The decision highlights France’s proven ability to organize large-scale international competitions, following the success of recent high-profile events such as the Rugby World Cup and the Olympic Games. With state-of-the-art arenas, efficient transport networks, and a passionate sports culture, the country is well-positioned to deliver a memorable tournament for players, fans, and stakeholders alike.
According to many sources close to the bidding process, the interest for the NBA project is coming mainly from US funds, that are aiming for the UK and Rome, while there’s also local interest for Paris. Due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, Arabian funds are currently more reluctant. However, there’s money on the table, even if everyone agrees at this point that nobody is willing to pay a 500M fee to enter the new league.
Rudy Gobert: So I have a small apartment in Paris. So in the summer, I try to spend a lot of time in France too, because it’s the only time when I can really do it. But I also really like it there. I still have the house in Utah, so I have everything I need there. I have a half basketball court, a weight room, a pool. Before every season, I spend a few weeks in Utah.” Interviewer: “Okay. Because of the altitude too?” Rudy Gobert: “Yeah. So, for the oxygen…” Interviewer: “You’re always chasing performance, even on vacation.” Rudy Gobert: “Well, listen, I’m teasing, but yes, it’s true. That’s it. I really appreciate the place already, but on top of that, the fact that there are benefits that help me with my performance, my career, and my longevity—well, it’s all upside. It’s important.”
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Fournier explained that the idea of retirement crossed his mind after a challenging stretch in the NBA and that he took some time to reflect on what he wanted next in his career. “I seriously considered retiring after the Paris Olympics,” Fournier said. “I had given myself a little bit of time to think about it. I went to the mountains and I thought, ‘Okay, let’s give it a go. I’ll enjoy it.’ “I was coming off two difficult seasons with the Knicks and I deeply love basketball, so I thought, ‘Enjoy yourself and end your career on that note.’”
Kevin Durant, the all-time leading scorer for the United States men's basketball team, told ESPN earlier this month that he does plan on returning for another run of international play in 2028. The 37-year-old swingman, who won an Olympic-record fourth gold medal at the 2024 Games, disputed the notion that Paris was a last run. "That narrative, where did the last dance thing come from?" Durant said. "I didn't say I wasn't playing. LeBron [James] said he wasn't. You didn't hear that from me or Steph [Curry]."
Silver wants to put new teams in London, Paris, Rome, and Manchester, England, backed by soccer giants and the biggest investment funds in the world (the Saudi PIF has expressed interest). Existing clubs with similar financial backing are being targeted in Barcelona and Madrid, in Milan, in Athens and Istanbul, Berlin and Munich, and Lyon, France. If Silver is (and in all likelihood, he will be) successful in bringing this new league on line, current NBA players said, overwhelmingly, they would consider, some day, playing in NBA Europe. “Yeah, it would interest me a little bit. I think that’s pretty cool,” said Charlotte rookie and Rising Star Kon Knueppel.
Bane is officially listed as American by the NBA but has Nigerian heritage and is yet to represent any nation on the international stage. Having qualified for their first Olympics at London 2012, Nigeria's basketball team went on to also compete at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, but missed out on the 2024 Games in Paris. "I would for sure," said the shooting guard when asked about the possibility of answering the call if it came. "We just need to get all the Nigerians together for the Olympics coming up in the next couple years and make something happen."
