By David Bernauer | Cronkite News
LILLE, France — A large crowd of fans in Lille gathers at mobile barriers outside the U.S. team’s hotel, L’Hermitage Gantois, hoping to catch a glimpse of the tall basketball players boarding the team bus to Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
“DBook, I am your biggest France fan,” reads a sign carried by Axel Grégoire, a local resident.
“I love this team and I love Devin Booker and Team USA,” Grégoire said before the team’s recent game against Puerto Rico. “I’m very grateful because I watch the NBA app all year long and now it’s here in Lille, in my city. So it’s very, very nice.”
Since the 1992 “Dream Team” of Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the NBA has become an ever-growing phenomenon around the world, and its individual teams are no exception.
Thirty-two years later, Suns fans can be seen in the streets of Paris and Lille, where USA plays and trains basketball. This year’s team features two Suns, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, and the all-star squad will try to win the gold medal on Saturday against their home country of France.
Last week, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told the Associated Press that the NBA had been in talks about starting its own basketball league in Europe.
Lillie, a picturesque town 210 kilometers north of Paris known for its popular street markets and world-class museums, is a typical example of the European cities that have taken the NBA to their hearts.
On this day, it is clear how much the fans appreciate USA Basketball and the stars of Phoenix making the trip here. Valerio Guerra, who traveled from Italy, repeatedly addressed Phoenix’s devastating loss to Milwaukee in the 2021 NBA Finals.
“I’ve been following this team on NBA TV,” Guerra said. “I really like the spirit of the organization and supported them during the 2021 NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. KD has been one of my favorite basketball players since he started with the Seattle SuperSonics. I really like Devin Booker’s style, his spirit, the way he plays.”
Durant, acquired in a franchise-changing trade in February 2023, and Booker, the 13th pick in the 2015 draft, have managed to draw attention on the court with their graceful playing style. The Phoenix Suns are the only teams, along with the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, with two or more representatives on the roster.
“It’s always nice for them to represent the NBA,” said John Damasco, a San Diego attorney who came to see the Suns’ star duo play for USA Basketball. “But other than that, Booker has always been the top dog since he played in the NBA Finals. And Kevin Durant, there’s nothing better.”
Of course, not every fan who cheers for the Suns can prove their connection to Booker or Durant. The Suns have had four French players in franchise history: Boris Diaw, Mickaël Piétrus, Elie Okobo and Theo Maledon. The most popular of them is Diaw, who played in the Valley from 2005 to 2008 and won the award as the league’s most improved player in 2006.
Steph Ravu, a fan from Paris who made a three-hour trip to see the USA vs. Puerto Rico game, originally became a Suns fan when Diaw was traded to the team. Despite failed Finals appearances, losing seasons, poor draft selections and finally a touch of success, he’s still here 20 years later, finally getting a chance to see Booker and Durant play.
“I mean, I love them. Honestly, they’re one of my favorite players in the NBA,” Ravu said. “Devin Booker, I didn’t expect much from him when he was drafted, so it was a nice surprise at the time. It’s really nice to see him grow and become a superstar. Basically, it’s a dream come true for me to see these guys play in France.”
Others, who have been fans since the mid-2000s, are thrilled to have made the trip to Lille to cheer on a new generation of superhuman Suns talent. Phoenix native Steve Ho, who now lives in the Bay Area, says his favorite player growing up was Steve Nash.
“I grew up in the Seven Seconds or Less Steve Nash era, the whole 2000s, just amazing,” said Ho. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! I never thought I would be doing this and it’s cool to be surrounded by all the people from all over the world and be in one place. It’s awesome.”
LeBron James or Michael Jordan’s jerseys may be the most popular on the streets of Paris or Lille, but it’s safe to say that the Suns have garnered their own fair share of French fandom.
