Photo: Peter Baba

NBA plans for its 2026 European showcase will feature two regular-season games in Paris and Manchester, with the San Antonio Spurs selected as the headlining team, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line on Sunday, May 17. The decision places the franchise and Victor Wembanyama at the center of the league’s latest international expansion push.

Stein reported that the NBA’s two games in Europe next January will be staged in Paris and Manchester, marking another step in the league’s continued effort to grow its global footprint. The selection of the Spurs was described as driven by Wembanyama’s international profile and market impact.

The French center has become one of the league’s most productive two-way players in the 2025–26 season. He averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks in the regular season while shooting 51.2 percent from the field, according to league statistics.

His presence adds a direct link to Paris, where the NBA has already built momentum through previous regular-season appearances. The Spurs previously faced the Indiana Pacers in Paris in January 2025, a game that reinforced the league’s interest in returning to the French capital.

The Manchester game expands the NBA’s reach into the United Kingdom, where the league has periodically staged regular-season contests but has not yet established a permanent presence. The upcoming schedule places two major European markets on the same January slate.

San Antonio enters the 2026 international showcase as one of the Western Conference’s top teams, finishing the regular season with a 62–20 record and ranking second in the conference standings. The team advanced through the early playoff rounds behind strong performances from its core rotation.

De’Aaron Fox has provided perimeter scoring and playmaking stability, averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists in the regular season. Stephon Castle has also emerged as a consistent contributor, posting 16.7 points and 7.4 assists per game.