MANILA, Philippines – San Antonio Spurs and France national team point guard Tony Parker told French radio station RMC that he may miss the 2016 Rio Olympics due to the pregnancy of his wife, who’s expected to give birth to his second season at the end of July.
Parker, a 4-time NBA champion and former NBA Finals MVP, told the radio station he has yet to decide whether or not his wife’s pregnancy will lead him to cancel his commitments with the French national team.
That means there’s a chance Parker will miss the Olympic Qualifying Tournament to be held in Manila from July 4-10.
In order for France to make the Olympics, they will need to win the tournament that also includes Canada, New Zealand, Turkey, Senegal, and the Philippines.
Parker said, “this is big news,” according to a report by ESPN. “I will need to talk with the France team. And negotiate with my wife, too. The schedule is very, very difficult.”
Per ESPN, French federation president Jean-Pierre Siutat and technical director Patrick Beesley both say they’re “unaware of Parker’s situation.”
The absence of Parker, a battle-tested, intelligent, and talented playmaker, would be a huge loss for France and major boost for its opponents in the Manila qualifiers.
Parker's Spurs, which currently have the second-best record in the NBA, may also play deep into the NBA playoffs, which would give the 16-year NBA veteran incentive to rest.
But even without the French star, the team still boasts of many talents in the team: Rudy Gobert, Nic Batum, and Boris Diaw, to name a few. – Rappler.com