“Something spectacular”: David Kahn delighted with the “collaboration” between Mister V and Paris Basketball

Something new at Paris Basketball. Winner of the Leaders Cup, third in Betclic Elite and qualified for the semi-finals of the Eurocup, the capital club announced this Thursday a partnership with Pizza Delamama. “The pizza brand developed by A

Moreover, rather than a partnership, he prefers to speak of “collaboration”. “Sports brands, teams, are looking to work with fashion designers, music artists, those kinds of designers. I am excited at the idea of ​​working hand in hand with Mister V and Pizza Dellamama over the coming months. I don't forget to thank our agency, Yard. When I presented this idea to them to do something different with someone like him, and they immediately recommended Mister V. They were right.

Which Mister V, rapper, actor, YouTuber, is a basketball and Paris Basketball fan, it's no secret. “I don’t think this kind of deal has been done in Europe. It's not a traditional brand, not the kind of advertiser we're used to seeing in sport. This is an opportunity to partner with a very creative person, who knows how to attract attention. He has five million subscribers on YouTube. That’s almost half of Greater Paris! He loves basketball and Paris Basketball,” underlines the president of the club. Why didn’t you “sell” the back of the jersey sooner? “We had a problem: knowing that the season did not start at the Adidas Arena, we knew that we could not maximize the value of the partnerships for the jersey before next season,” he explains. We didn't want to sell off the jersey. “It’s an opportunity to do something spectacular together, to create content together, with the idea that this content will bring more consumers to the club and our social networks.”

Next season will obviously be a different story. Especially if Paris Basketball plays in the Euroleague. The leaders of the most prestigious European competition could invite them. Which has not (yet?) been the case according to our information. TJ Shorts, Nadir Hifi and company also have the opportunity to get their ticket like the big guys, by winning the Eurocup. They will challenge the London Lions from Tuesday, in the semi-finals, while Bourg-en-Bresse will face Besiktas in the other series.

“I make it a point not to think too much about the Euroleague. I won't go so far as to say that I don't think about it at all, slips David Kahn. But I imposed this discipline on myself even more before last Thursday (the quarter of C2). I knew it would be really hard. Now we see none other than London in the semi-finals. They have a lot of talent. This is why I impose this discipline on myself regarding the Euroleague, because we have not done anything yet. We will have plenty of time to work and talk about it if we are lucky enough to win, which is very far from being done. The last thing I want is for us to become overconfident. We will have plenty of time to explore what the Euroleague can mean for us, whether next year or in the future. It would have some appeal, but I also wonder: after only five years of existence, is the club ready? Five years, including two during Covid..."

One thing is certain: there will be no question of selling off anything in 2024-25. “We will have a full season in this new venue, a well-established team, and who knows where it will play next season... It is possible that we move up a notch. However, I do not want to talk about this yet, it is very premature. We have already had a very good season in many respects. Sportingly of course, but also as a brand. The number of our subscribers on Instragram is increasing every day,” rejoices Mr. Kahn, noting that “the fact that there is no money at stake (in the Mister V deal) explains why the activations are so important. We don't just put a name on the jersey. There will be a lot of content on our platforms and theirs.

Note that the partnership in question only runs until the end of the season. What about an extension? "Who knows ? We didn't talk about it. But there are many activations planned, produced by his teams and ours, Yard too,” underlines David Kahn, promising “a lot of fun” and hoping that both entities will benefit from it. “He has way more followers than us. Those of them who do not yet know us will have the opportunity to interact with our brand,” he explains. For the rest, without pressure but with a lot of ambition, it's up to Tuomas Iisalo's players to play.