Because of safety concerns and a player pool expected to earn a combined payroll of more than $500 million during the 2024-25 NBA season, the U.S. basketball team arrived by train from London on Wednesday and booked an entire luxury hotel in central Paris for the duration of the Olympics. The U.S. men's basketball team has had its own accommodations since Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and the original “Dream Tam” took Barcelona by storm in 1992.
USA Basketball is not publicly disclosing its travel arrangements to protect the safety and privacy of players, their families and program staff.
To make the most of their time in Paris, this year's team will train in the capital, then travel by private train to Lille, about an hour north, on the day before their three group stage games against Serbia, South Sudan and Puerto Rico. As with road trips during the NBA season, the team will stay the night before the game in a five-star hotel in Lille, a short walk from the city center, and depart for Paris immediately after the game.
Located near the Belgian border, Lille is the largest city in northern France with a population of around 230,000. The city centre has two train stations and La Vieille Bourse, the iconic stock exchange building built in the 17th century.
The group stage of the basketball tournament will take place at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium, a converted soccer facility in Villeneuve d'Ascq, about 15 minutes east of central Lille. The arena's basketball configuration can accommodate 27,000 spectators and is expected to be full for the first two days of play. In 2015, Pierre Mauroy Stadium hosted EuroBasket, a major international tournament, and the presence of American basketball stars was a big talking point in the city. Posters promoting the Olympics were plastered around town and basketballs were lined up in many store windows.
Preparations for the U.S. basketball team's stay in Lille ahead of their opening game against Serbia on Sunday began last week, when staff arrived at the hotel, which also has a spa and art gallery. Hotel staff decorated the hotel's entrance with American flags and a full-size basketball goal and hung USA Basketball jerseys on a wall near the lobby. Security guards watch the main entrance 24 hours a day and installed barriers near the entrance so players can walk from their buses to the hotel's main entrance.
The players hadn't yet arrived in town, but dozens of basketball fans and autograph seekers gathered around the hotel's main entrance last week, hoping to spot the big buses transporting team staff and meet the basketball stars.
The hotel rooms feature wood-paneled walls, marble bathtubs and long windows overlooking private courtyards. Hotel staff were excited about the possibility of meeting the team, with some speculating that James would stay in the hotel's premier suite. Guests were asked to check out by noon on Saturday to be there in time for the team's arrival.
One of the French subway fires occurred on a line between Paris and Lille, but the men's basketball tournament went ahead without a hitch. Several reporters arrived late to the opening match between France and Brazil on Saturday because of subway disruptions.
The men's basketball tournament will return to Paris' Bercy Arena for the quarterfinals on Aug. 6. The arena, one of the main Olympic facilities, also hosts gymnastics this week.
