We’ve seen the news, I think it’s safe to say that we’re all saddened by the multiple attacks that occurred in Paris, France.
The attacks occurred at around 9pm GMT (4pm ET) and sent France into a State of Emergency. In the US, several French players in the NBA were preparing to play including Charlotte’s Nicolas Batum and New Orleans’ Alexis Ajinca. When the news dropped they had to deal with a basketball game whilst their country’s capital was being blown up and shot down all around the city. Ajinca and Batum spoke on the attacks.
“It’s just a crazy world. You think you’re safe, you’re just walking down the street and the next thing you know, people start shooting,” Ajinca said. “My prayers go to my family and friends.”
Ajinca wrote “Pray for Paris” on his sneakers and asked his Twitter followers to “Pray for my family and friends” prior to the game.
“During the whole game I was trying to get this out of my mind so I was able to stay focused,” Ajinca said after he had 10 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
“It felt weird. I was thinking about it the whole game.”
“Still a tough day for us,” Batum said after Chicago’s 102-97 win. “I think about it all game. I wanted to do a good game to show them in my way, we’re strong.”
“I talked to my sister and some friends and everybody is all right,” Batum said. “They’re shocked. They told me Paris is like a war outside. Everybody is outside. The police is outside. The army is outside.”
I couldn’t imagine playing while my families and friends are potentially in danger, I couldn’t do it.
We experienced several players, not just Ajinca and Batum, that did their job while on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, people were mercilessly getting shot down and blown up.
Several NBA teams held a moment of silence for the tragedy in Paris that took place.
