Inside The Nets

Mikal Bridges reacts to soccer superstars watching the Nets play in Paris

The 2024 NBA Paris Game was a massive event for European basketball fans.

Peter Sunjic

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The NBA’s supporters are not just exclusive to North America, because the leagu has found a niche worldwide. Even soccer or football superstars went to watch the Nets play against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2024 NBA Paris Game.

Since this game was in Paris, there were plenty of big-name celebrities who watched the game. The viewers were some of the biggest names in soccer; Kylian Mbappe, Ronaldo Nazario, and David Beckham. This led NBA players themselves to notice them and appreciate their support for the league.

“It's dope for them to pull up. They're freaking superstars so it's really dope. I wish we could've got a win in front of them,” Mikal said about some of the biggest names in soccer being in attendance.

Basketball’s constant growth is catching up to soccer

Basketball has continued to grow into one of the biggest sports in the world. Soccer takes the lead in terms of size and popularity, but people should not discount what basketball has done over the past few decades.

Over the past few years, the NBA has become a much more international league. Even the best players in the league have trended to include more international players as evidenced by the last three MVPs hailing from Europe and Africa.

Having names like Beckham and Mbappe watching the NBA every time they have a chance shows that basketball is earning respect in the sports world. This will continue to happen as the NBA expands to include more games in different countries as they did in Paris.

The Nets are big supporters of international basketball

Ever since Mikhail Prokhorov took majority ownership of the Nets, the team has been willing to play overseas. After the NBA Paris Game, the Nets have played 23 games outside of North America, the most out of any NBA team ever.

Joe Tsai is now the Nets’ majority owner, but he’s following Prokhorov’s footsteps. That is a great way to grow the Nets’ popularity in different countries, but it’s also helping the NBA Itself to become more well-known in areas where soccer is dominant.

Adam Silver sees the Brooklyn Nets as a fantastic representative for the NBA internationally

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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