NBA: “It’s like watching with 2,500 friends”, the Grand Rex still vibrates for basketball

Under the red arch surrounding the giant screen, French pivot Rudy Gobert makes an improbable shot in favor of Minnesota which widens the gap. “MVP, MVP,” chanted 2,500 people at the Grand Rex. For the second year in a row, the Parisian cinema, the largest in Europe, was packed this Saturday to broadcast two matches from the first round of the NBA playoffs, which saw Orlando dominate Cleveland (97-83) and Minnesota crush Phoenix ( 120-95).

You had to see the queue spread over more than 200 meters, in the narrow streets of the capital, brightened up by flashy jerseys of former glories (Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Dennis Rodman) or current stars (Luka Doncic, Jamal Murray , Victor Wembanyama), to capture the excitement of the event. The cinema doors opened at 5 p.m. with free seating. “I arrived at 4 p.m. It seems that some have been here since noon,” Sebastian marveled.

The long evening, organized by the popular digital media TrashTalk, and sponsored by beIN Sports, Parions Sport and the NBA itself, slowly heated up. Time to win a few jerseys through quizzes or to invite Mickaël Piétrus, ex-French international (44 caps), NBA vice-champion with Orlando in 2009, on stage.

Once the first match starts at 7 p.m. (the second at 9:30 p.m.), the show takes over the Grand Rex. From the uprisings on a decisive 3-point shot from Anthony Edwards (Minnesota) to the chuckles of laughter on a crude airball from Max Strus (Cleveland), the public follows, even drives the rhythm. “The atmosphere is so good,” relishes Sebastian, happy to be there after missing last year’s “Viewing Party”.

For him, “it’s a bit like watching with friends, except there are 2,500 friends.” “It’s better than watching the matches at home on your sofa,” notes Timothé. “You can allow yourself to let go a little more, you don’t have neighbors who complain,” adds Baptiste. The latter appreciates “the community side which is ultra-palpable”.

Now, all of a sudden, these orange ball fans who discuss, debate, argue via social networks, who sometimes live their passion at night alone behind a screen, come together and pool their enthusiasm. “It’s really cool to share this with lots of people, even strangers,” Sebastian continues. “The discussions that we can have between us, we also hear them in front of and behind our seats, there is a very pleasant osmosis,” agrees Baptiste.

Timothé was at the NBA match in Paris on January 11 between Cleveland and Brooklyn (111-102). This evening, he found the atmosphere of a basketball hall “because people play the game”, by protesting over a foul called against their favorite team, or by chanting “defense, defense” at the unison.

The media TrashTalk had launched the concept in 100-seat cinemas before Covid-19. The dimension is completely different today. Live, the powerful American channel ESPN welcomed the event from the other side of the Atlantic. Timothé, a young thirty-year-old who has been following the NBA since 2008, notes: “The visibility of basketball has evolved a lot in France over the past 10-15 years. It’s great for a kid who’s getting into basketball now.” Sebastian has been a San Antonio Spurs fan since 2005. He was 10 years old. “When I talked about it in college, not many people were interested. There, for this event, the places (€30 single price) sold out super quickly.”

It's almost 12:30 a.m. when the mustard yellow seats of the Grand Rex empty, after the overwhelming victory of Rudy Gobert's Timberwolves. Sebastian can already see himself coming back next year, if the evening is repeated. “Why not even for the French team” during the Paris 2024 Olympics, he suggests. Concerning the NBA, optimism is in order. In January, Adam Silver, the big boss of the American league, opened the door to two matches in quick succession in Paris in 2025. The NBA loves France, and if there was any doubt, the event at the Grand Rex made it happen. confirmed: it's mutual.