With baby on the way, Spurs' Parker could miss Olympics
Tony Parker is arguably the greatest French basketball player who ever lived, but it looks like the pending birth of his second child may keep him out of this summer's Olympic Games.
Parker told a French radio station that his wife is due at the end of July (the Rio Olympics begin Aug. 6), which could force him to cancel his commitments with the national team. Parker says "This is big news," Parker said via the Associated Press. "I will need to talk with the France team. And negotiate with my wife, too. The schedule is very, very difficult."
French federation president Jean-Pierre Siutat and technical director Patrick Beesley both say they were unaware of Parker's situation, the AP reported.
The San Antonio Spurs star is having a solid season, his 14th in the NBA. In limited minutes, the 33-year-old point guard is nearly as efficient as he's ever been, and still has plenty left in the tank to help France make a run alongside Spurs teammate Boris Diaw in Rio this summer.
But despite this most likely being his last legitimate opportunity to compete at a high level at an Olympics, some things in life are more important than basketball.
The Spurs are probably excited about the timing, too. The organization is known to frown upon their players putting extra wear and tear on their bodies, and a hobbling Parker is one thing San Antonio can't afford if it wants to win another championship at any point in the near future.
So it sounds like everybody wins. Well, everyone except France.
Tony Parker SPINS and WINS on @ESPN! #NBARapidReplay #HOUatSAS https://t.co/XReTWBiDXd
— NBA (@NBA) January 28, 2016
