Detroit’s French point guard Killian Hayes is burning with anticipation for the NBA game against Chicago in Paris on Thursday, Jan. 19, as he told a tight-knit media group.
This is perhaps the biggest basketball event of the year in France. The NBA will play the second official game in its history in France, this Thursday, January 19, 2023 in Paris, after that of January 2020. The Chicago Bulls will face the Detroit Pistons of young French leader Killian Hayes.
From the height of his 21 years, the former Choletais is already living his third season in the United States. That of hatching, after two years below expectations. He is running at 10 points and 5.7 assists per game, in a young Detroit team condemned to the bottom of the standings (14th out of 15 in the Eastern Conference). In mid-December, a month before the infamous match in France, Hayes opened up to a tight-knit media group about what the prestigious fixture represents.
How do you approach this match in Paris?
I’m eager to. I can’t wait to go back to France. I haven’t often had the chance to come back, but when I come back, to see my friends, my family who are there… It’s going to be a very good event. Afterwards, it’s still a regular season game, that’s the focus, but we’re still going to enjoy coming back to France.
Are you looking forward to introducing your teammates to France?
Of course, there are a lot of guys in the team who have never been to France or Paris. They ask me lots of questions, shopping, what to do, food… It’s up to me to take care of them when we’re there. I will wear them well. (smile) Afterwards, they are tourists, so they go to see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre no doubt.
“Everyone sends me messages, they ask me for 5, 6 places…”
What is your relationship to Paris?
I know Paris well. I didn’t grow up in Paris, I grew up in Cholet, but I often went to Paris. France is still small, in an hour and a half by train I was in Paris.
Do you think that the French public will be there for this poster between Detroit and Chicago?
I was told that it was “sold out”, that people had trouble getting tickets, so I’m trying to get as many tickets as possible to give to all my guys (smile). It’s going to be heavy, I think the Accor Arena will be full.
you said i GQ magazinethat you go «having to collect at least a hundred tickets»…
Everyone sends me messages, they ask me for 5, 6 places… I tell them: “hey, we have to limit it to 2 or 3”, because it’s going to be complicated to have everyone in it. (laughter)
“There are 30 teams in the NBA, they could choose anyone”
What is your view on the very dense NBA schedule, especially for young players, and the possible break that this match in Paris could represent?
I think we have 4 days in Paris. They put us a lot of back-to-back (two matches in two days, editor’s note) this season. The NBA schedule? The first season, it’s incredible, you go from 30-40 games to 82, not counting the playoffs. Yes, it’s a big change, but in the second season you get used to it. And the 3rd season, it becomes normal. On the back-to-back, limit I feel better on the second game. The match in Paris will give us a little break, but we have to stay focused. After Paris, we come back and the program continues.
Read alsoAlex Caruso (Chicago) on the NBA match in Paris: “I can’t wait, it will perk us up mentally”
What will the public see different in your game since your arrival in the NBA?
It’s been a long time since I’ve played in France. My game has changed a little bit, but I wouldn’t say it has changed much. Keep having fun, lots of assists, creation, fast play, transition, alley-oop… We’re playing a fast game with lots of transitions, it’s going to be fun to watch.
When did you learn that there would be this match in Paris?
I learned that a long time ago! I think I already knew at the start of last season (the NBA did not announce it until May 2022, editor’s note). So I didn’t tell anyone, no one knew. But when I found out, I said to myself: “It’s heavy.” I did not expect that. There are 30 teams in the NBA, they could choose anyone and they choose us to go, frankly it’s an honor. I know it will probably only happen once in my career, to play an NBA game in France. You just have to enjoy the moment, to have my family there. It’s going to be good.
Do American players talk to you about French basketball? Are they interested in it?
We often talk about the Euroleague because, in our team, there is Bogdan (Bogdanovic) who played at Fenerbahce, who had a real career in the Euroleague too. But otherwise they ask me about Victor (Wembanyama) of course, since he’s the next number one pick in the draft.