Yesterday, Spurs guard Tony Parker announced that he and his wife are expecting a second son. Immediately following that news, however, was a story that Parker’s 2016 Olympics appearance with France was now in jeopardy:
.@tonyparker unsure if he'll be able to suit up for France in 2016 Olympics
STORY: https://t.co/0GRkfaYwdB pic.twitter.com/Kqy8lGbWe8
— NBA.com (@NBAcom) February 2, 2016
Parker has provided massive production for the French national team — when he does appear for the squad. Parker has been a regular at the FIBA Eurobasket tournament every two years, helping France to a bronze medal in the summer of 2015 and a gold medal in the summer of 2013, including winning tournament MVP honors. Parker was not active during the 2014 FIBA World Cupm however, when the French team won a surprise bronze medal, led mostly by Nicolas Batum and Parker’s Spurs teammate, Boris Diaw.
Parker has only played in one previous career Olympics, in London 2012, where the French team finished sixth overall. France did not qualify in 2008 or 2004, and when the country won the silver medal at the 2000 Sydney, Olympics, Parker was not yet on the senior team, despite his pending arrival in San Antonio.