Charlotte Hornets centre Willy Hernangomez has urged the NBA to expand its international series by hosting a future match in his homeland Spain.
Madrid-born Hernangomez and his French team-mate Nicolas Batum will line up for the Hornets against the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Paris Game 2020 on 24 January.
The 25-year-old is looking forward to the game in France, but is pleading with the NBA to start planning for further events. He said: “Personally, I think it’s great for me and Nico Batum, the European players to have the opportunity to play an NBA game in Europe.
“Hope it will be in Spain soon, but it will be great to see my family and friends, they want to fly there for sure. But for the NBA, I think it’s great to show the world how the NBA works and the game.
“I think they’re doing a pretty good job. So I can say please, NBA, make a game in Spain soon! That would be amazing. A big opportunity to see my family, it’s really hard for us.
“Especially Nico and his whole family, and me, being so far from our parents and my friends, so it’s a big chance to see them.”
A great moment
French national team player Batum is also excited at the prospect of playing for the Hornets in his home country.
The 30-year-old said: “I was very happy for the country first. I’ve played in Paris a couple of times, but an NBA game is special. It’s different.
“I’m thankful for the city, for the country to have two NBA teams to compete in Paris so the fans can really see that live. That’s good. The NBA is really big in France. They love basketball, so that’s good for them.
“Every time we play for the French team, we get a good reaction, the fans know the game. So being home, it’s going to be special. My whole family is going to be there, people from my home country are going to be there, so it will be a great moment.”
NBA Paris Game 2020
- Who: Charlotte Hornets vs. Milwaukee Bucks
- When: Friday 24 January
- Where: AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France
- Website: nbaevents.com/parisgame
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