Parker could play for Villeurbanne

Tony Parker played four seasons in France before being selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2001 NBA Draft.


If the lockout lasts into January, and it seems like it might, Parker has recently said that he will resume his French basketball career.

Parker held a press conference recently in France, and according to French basketball website BasketUSA, the 29-year-old point guard had some interesting comments on the lockout and a possible return to France.

On the lockout, Parker said that it "is a problem of rich," apparently intimating that the owners are at fault despite his signing a four-year, $50 million extension with the Spurs last fall. This isn't exactly a surprising stance, however, as there's no reason for him to blame his fellow players for the problems keeping the NBA from playing next season.

If the NBA doesn't play next season, or at least if the lockout lasts into 2012, Parker plans to give a big boost to ASVEL -- the team he part-owns and manages in France.

"If in January-February, the NBA says the lockout will last until the end of the season, I will come to France, but the NBA season can start anytime -- They will not say in October that the strike will last all year, it does not work like that," Parker said. "But if so, I'd head over to the ASVEL because I'm general manager and executive director."

ASVEL has already signed three players with names familiar to NCAA basketball fans in Jamie Skeen, Kim Tillie and former NBA player Hilton Armstrong, but Parker would definitely be a nice addition.

In fact, he might be able to be the first in the world to be named Most Valuable Player and Executive of the Year in the same season.

source : sbnation.com




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