Basketball

Knicks fans flood New York City streets for championship parade

Confetti in the Knicks' blue and orange swirled through the air as thousands of people watched the parade roll up a 10-block route in lower Manhattan known as the 'Canyon of Heroes.'

The Knicks, the soul of New York, are NBA champions after more than half a century of waiting

After a long period of anticipation and frustration, New York, where basketball is so much more than just a sport, finally celebrates, following its 94-90 triumph on Saturday in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against Victor Wembanyama's Spurs.

NBA Finals: New York rediscovers passion for basketball and the Knicks

The New York Knicks have a chance to win the NBA championship for the first time since 1973 if they prevail on Saturday against Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs. Such a feat would mark a long-awaited reconciliation between New York and its storied franchise.

New York Knicks stage historic comeback in Game 4 of NBA Finals against Wembanyama's Spurs

After leading by 29 points, the San Antonio Spurs collapsed and lost 107-106 on a basket in the final seconds. The Knicks now lead the series 3-1 and are just one win away from the title. French star Victor Wembanyama, despite an outstanding performance, faltered late in the game and had to play in front of a hostile crowd.

In photos: New Yorkers' thrill at Knicks' return to NBA finals

New Yorkers have been swept up in excitement for their basketball team in recent weeks. Throughout the city's streets, Knicks blue-and-orange shirts, caps and accessories have bloomed since the start of the playoffs, while bars have been packed with fans on game nights.

NBA Finals: Wembanyama pushes Spurs past Knicks as Trump booed

The Spurs beat the Knicks 115-112 in Madison Square Garden on Monday to cut the Knicks' lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven championship series.

Like PSG, the Knicks successfully rebuilt by ditching superstars

The New York Knicks open the NBA finals on Wednesday against Victor Wembanyama's Spurs. Much like Paris Saint-Germain, the Knicks had to reinvent themselves after years of frustration.

Wembanyama's Spurs overpower Oklahoma City Thunder to advance to NBA Finals

Sparked by superstar Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs dethroned defending champion Thunder to earn their place in the finals against the Knicks, starting on Wednesday in San Antonio.

Spurs fall in game one to Timberwolves, despite record performance from Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama had 11 points and 15 rebounds and set an NBA postseason record with 12 blocks, but lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-102. Game two in the seven-game series will be played on Wednesday.

Wembanyama, in his return after a concussion, leads Spurs to erase a 19-point deficit, beating Portland

The 22-year-old French player had missed game three of the series after a head injury he sustained in game two. In their victory over Portland, he scored 27 points for the San Antonio Spurs.

France to host men's basketball World Cup in 2031

The FIBA tournament will run from August 29 to September 14, 2031, in Paris, Lyon and the northern city of Lille. The final phase will be held in the French capital.

Victor Wembanyama becomes the NBA's youngest defensive player of the year

Wembanyama, a French player for the San Antonio Spurs, is only 22 and was named the first unanimous winner in the award's 43-year history.

NBA star Chris Paul 'steps away' from basketball at age 40

Paul posted his retirement announcement on Instagram after being dropped following his trade to Toronto by the Los Angeles Clippers last week.

Victor Wembanyama 'horrified' by ICE killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti

During an interview on the sidelines of his team's training session on Tuesday, the French NBA star called out ICE's actions in the US.

Behind Victor Wembanyama, the NBA's Frenchmen have mixed fortunes

Nineteen French players are currently competing in the NBA. While the San Antonio Spurs star commands most of the spotlight, the new generation is striving to find its place in an intensely competitive environment.

French All-Star Game: Second-tier American basketball players thrive in France

Like many leagues across Europe, the French basketball league has welcomed numerous players from the United States who failed to secure a place in the NBA but have gone on to become leading figures in their new leagues.

NBA and FIBA announce search for teams for a potential European league

The National Basketball Association and International Basketball Federation said they would begin prospecting basketball teams and owners for a planned pan-European men's basketball league.

China welcomes back the NBA, America's softpower heavyweight

Amid trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, the American basketball league continues to expand its roots in China, despite recurring diplomatic setbacks.

Wembanyama held to nine points in Spurs first loss of the season to Pheonix

Before Sunday's 130-118 loss to the Phoenix Suns, the French player averaged 30 points per game in the Spurs' first five consecutive wins at the start of the season.

Victor Wembanyama scores 40 in dazzling return from injury

Back from shoulder surgery, the 21-year-old French star powered San Antonio to a 125-92 win on Wednesday, setting a franchise record for points in a season opener.

Germany crowned European basketball champions for second time

Germany defeated Turkey 88-83 in the EuroBasket championship final match on Sunday. Earlier, Greece beat Finland 92-89 to win the bronze medal.

Wembanyama mixes brains and bounce in hometown 'Hoop Gambit' tournament

The French basketball star returned to Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, near Paris, on Sunday, to lead the inaugural edition of this unique tournament combining basketball and chess.

Paris Basketball, crowned French champions, puts capital back at the top

The Parisian club, founded in 2018, claimed its first French men's basketball championship title on Tuesday after defeating Monaco in the fifth game of the finals.

Kevin Durant buys minority stake in PSG, eyes global expansion with Qatari owners

The acquisition marks a strategic partnership aimed at boosting PSG's international growth and exploring ventures beyond football – including basketball.

For European women's basketball, the WNBA's rise comes at a cost

The North American league's calendar has forced some European players to forgo the EuroBasket continental tournament opening Wednesday.

NBA Finals: Buzzer-beater lifts Pacers over Thunder in Game 1

With just three-tenths of a second left in regulation, Tyrese Haliburton secured the win for the Indiana Pacers, who had trailed for nearly the entire game on Oklahoma City's court.

NBA: For French coaches, America remains uncharted territory

There are foreign players galore in the North American basketball league. But for international coaches, the opportunities are still much more rare.

NBA and FIBA to take next steps toward adding a new European league

The announcement made Thursday by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis is a major step forward after a long process of the sides going back and forth with ideas about what might work.

Victor Wembanyama expected to miss rest of NBA season due to health issue

A statement by the French star player's team, the San Antonio Spurs, said that Victor Wembanyama had been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, which usually precludes playing contact sports.

Wembanyama shines but his team loses the NBA All-Star Game final

The French player, making his All-Star Game debut, lost to a team of veterans such as Stephen Curry. However, he stood out with his determination in a game where many of his teammates took a more relaxed approach.

'Team Shaq' wins NBA All-Star game in San Francisco

Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum combined for 27 points as 'Team Shaq' cruised to victory on Sunday. But this year's new format failed to impress everyone.

Victor Wembanyama hopes to shine at NBA All-Star Game

Selected for his first All-Star Game on Sunday, the 21-year-old Frenchman warned that he was in San Francisco to win. But LeBron James and Stephen Curry could stand in his way.

Victor Wembanyama is NBA All-Star for the first time

The French native is only the fourth San Antonio Spurs basketball player to make the All-Star Game in his first or second season.

Wembanyama leaves Paris defeated but celebrated by French crowd

The French NBA sensation suffered a heavy defeat on Saturday as the San Antonio Spurs lost to the Indiana Pacers at the Accor Arena (98-136). This setback couldn't diminish the enthusiasm of the Parisian crowd.

Wembanyama's Spurs lose to Haliburton-inspired Pacers in Paris

Wembanyama dazzles Paris crowd as he leads Spurs to easy win

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama played in the French league before becoming the number-one pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, David Robinson attended Thursday's game in Paris against the Indiana Pacers.

The San Antonio Spurs' close ties with France, from Tony Parker to Victor Wembanyama

The Texas-based basketball franchise will play the first of its two NBA games in Paris against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.

Victor Wembanyama and the NBA in Paris: 'It's like two worlds colliding'

The French basketball star arrived in the Paris region on Monday with his partners from the San Antonio Spurs for two NBA games, and returned to his old club, Nanterre.

Victor Wembanyama's ever-improving performances charm San Antonio

Soon to turn 21, the French star of the San Antonio Spurs is off to a fine start to his second season, and is proving to be a serious contender for a spot in the NBA All-Star Game.

Dominique Malonga, the first Frenchwoman to dunk in a match

The technical gesture, executed by the basketball player on Wednesday, may be commonplace among men, but it is a rarity among women. Among professionals, it was first performed in 2002 by Lisa Leslie for the Los Angeles Sparks.

LeBron, Bronny James make NBA history

The Jameses are the first father and son to play in the NBA together, during the Los Angeles Lakers' season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.

Victor Wembanyama, the face of an ever more French NBA

The North American league's 2024-2025 season kicks off on Tuesday. Along with the Spurs star, the French contingent now includes Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr, number one and two picks in the latest draft.

Dikembe Mutombo, Hall of Fame basketball player and humanitarian, dies at 58

Mutumbo, an eight-time All-Star, a three-time All-NBA Team selection who went into the Hall of Fame in 2015, had dedicated his life to charitable and humanitarian causes and organizations after retiring.

Olympic women's basketball: France endures heartbreaking silver, after 'making the best team in the world quiver'

The French women's basketball team lost the final of the Paris Olympic Games to the US (66-67) on Sunday, August 11, after a memorable duel.

Olympic basketball: USA women fend off France for eighth straight gold

The USA won 67-66 as France's buzzer-beater was shot from centimeters inside the three-point line, meaning the hosts fell one point short from equalizing.

Steph Curry and Team USA shatter France's dream of gold in Olympic basketball final

The US won the gold medal in Paris on Sunday, beating a determined French team (87-98).

Paris Olympics: USA beats France 98-87 for basketball gold

In a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics final three years ago, LeBron James and the US team stacked with NBA stars once again proved too much for France's sensational NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama and his teammates.

Olympic basketball final between France and the US is 'the match of a lifetime'

France is facing the US in the men's Olympic basketball final on Saturday at 9:30 pm, just like in 1948, 2000 and 2021. Former French players Laurent Sciarra and Frédéric Weis, who played in Sydney in 2000, decipher the similarities and differences between the French teams of yesterday and today.

Basketball at the 2024 Olympics: French women reach final after a 'crazy' match against Belgium

The French team secured a hard-fought 81-75 overtime victory on Friday. Like the French men's team, they will face the US in the final.

France advances to 1st Olympic women's basketball gold medal game since 2012

Les Bleues defeated their neighbor Belgium 82-75 in overtime on Friday night.

Paris Olympics: France overcomes crisis to face Team USA in basketball final

Evan Fournier, Victor Wembanyama, and their team-mates beat the world champions Germany on Thursday (73-69).

Paris 2024: France gets revenge on Germany and will meet the US in men's basketball final

France is headed to its second consecutive Olympic gold-medal clash, after beating Germany 73-69. The US overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat Serbia in the second semifinal, later Thursday.

Basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki: France faces 'the best team Germany has ever known'

In an interview, the former German basketball and NBA star talks about the Mannschaft, the French team and Victor Wembayama, ahead of the Olympic semi-final between the two teams on Thursday.

Olympic women's basketball: After beating Germany, France faces familiar Belgium in semi-finals

Thanks to their 84-71 victory on Wednesday, Marine Johannès and her teammates enabled the French women's national team to reach the Olympic semi-finals for the fourth time in a row.

Paris 2024: France sink Canada to secure Germany rematch in Olympic basketball

Guerschon Yabusele and Isaia Cordinier picked up the slack for a subdued Victor Wembanyama, with France winning 82-73.

Paris 2024: The French basketball team still searching for right balance as quarter-finals get underway

Les Bleus face Canada on Tuesday against a backdrop of disagreements between certain players and staff over strategic options.

Paris 2024: Laëtitia Guapo, French 3×3 basketball's shooting star: 'Every time, I push beyond my limits'

The Les Bleues captain embodies a still little-known discipline that makes its second appearance on the Olympic program at the Place de la Concorde.

Paris 2024: South Sudan's Bright Stars, the stuff of dreams for aspiring basketball players

On Wednesday, July 31, the South Sudanese basketball team will take on the American favorites in their second Olympic event. A surprising team in the Olympics, they inspire Juba's youth to try their hand at basketball.

Paris Olympics: Durant inspires USA's Dream Team in rout of Serbia

The US will face South Sudan in their second group game on Wednesday.

Paris Olympics: French basketball team successfully took on Brazil thanks to Wembanyama and Batum

Vincent Collet's players made a successful start to the Olympic tournament with a 78-66 victory over the Brazilians in Lille on Saturday. After losing their warm-up games, this win puts them back on track.