For several months, the idea of seeing the NBA arrive in Europe has been taking shape, with a Paris Saint-Germain franchise expected to be part of the project. But the exact form is still unclear, particularly regarding how PSG would enter, given that it currently lacks a team of its own. According to L’Equipe, there is a possibility with Levallois Metropolitans.
“The club is the heir, in order, of Paris-Levallois, Paris Basket Racing, and, above all, PSG Racing.”
The club is the heir, in order, of Paris-Levallois, Paris Basket Racing, and, above all, PSG Racing, the 1997 champion founded three decades ago by Luc Dayan and Charles Biétry. The latter, the man who brought American basketball to France on Canal+, also participated in the attempt to establish an NBA franchise in Paris in 1998.
Dayan had relied on one of the Levallois Sporting Club (LSC) teams, the Blue Steelers, and renamed it the Metropolitans with the agreement of the city and the club’s director, Henry de Grissac.
“A meeting with QSI emissaries in the coming weeks.”
According to our information, Dayan is working on a meeting with QSI emissaries in the coming weeks. This is hardly surprising for someone who was heavily involved in the first rapprochement between Qatar and PSG in 2006. The takeover project of the former president of LOSC, Lens, and FC Nantes fell through. But Dayan is one of the most knowledgeable experts on a project he took on 33 years ago. At the time, in addition to being involved with PSG Racing Basket, he had put on paper a project for collaboration between the French Federation and the NBA.
Be careful, nothing has been finalized yet. So we’re remaining very cautious; several options remain possible. Discussions are still ongoing. This is a major project, with significant sums at stake. Everything can change quickly, and nothing will be rushed into action.
There will certainly be many more rumors. But this is an area that must be taken very seriously to allow PSG to take another step forward in its vision of becoming a truly global sports brand. With revenues that continue to grow. However, we must also be careful not to get into trouble. Let’s wait and find out more.
