The NBA and beIN SPORTS announced that the Charlotte Hornets and the Milwaukee Bucks will play in the NBA’s first regular-season game in Paris on Friday, January 24, 2020, at the AccorHotels Arena.

The NBA Paris Game 2020 Presented by beIN SPORTS will mark the Hornets’ second game in Paris, having played a preseason game in the French capital in 1994 against the Golden State Warriors. The Hornets’ roster currently features Kemba Walker, Tony Parker (France) and fellow countryman Nicolas Batum.

Opening-night rosters for the 2018-19 NBA season featured nine French players, more than any European country for the 12th consecutive season. 

Kyrie Irving was critical of the Boston Celtics' defense following their 124-117 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets came back after being down 112-94 with over 8 minutes left in the game.

Kemba Walker scored 18 of his 36 points in the 4th quarter.

"Down the stretch, try to come in and help as much as possible. We should have probably trapped him a little bit more, like every team does in the league. But we didn't. Torches us every time we play him. So it's no surprise," said Irving.

The Celtics scored just twice in their final 20 possessions.

"This game was over in the beginning of the fourth quarter. We took our foot off the gas pedal, got it to a five-point game and momentum shifted from there," he added.

The Dallas Mavericks are eyeing Kemba Walker as their top addition in free agency this summer.

Walker, an unrestricted free agent, has repeatedly expressed his desire to stay with the Hornets, although that could be changing. 

Word around the league is that Walker is leaning towards leaving the Hornets, according to Sam Amick.

"At this point, based on scuttlebutt around the league but without direct clarity from his side, it feels like he’s more likely to leave than stay," said Amick in a recent Q-and-A.

The Charlotte Hornets resisted trade offers at the 2018 deadline and the subsequent offseason on Kemba Walker and he responded by having an All-Star season. Walker will be a free agent and his future with the Hornets is unclear as they struggle to remain in the playoff picture.

Sam Amick of The Athletic suggested many around the league expect Walker to leave the Hornets.

"At this point, based on scuttlebutt around the league but without direct clarity from his side, it feels like he's more likely to leave than stay," wrote Amick.

Walker figures to receive max contract offers this offseason from multiple teams given the amount of cap space on the open market.