PARIS (France) - Tony Parker is hoping that that the current crop of France national team stars that are getting ready for the Olympics will have the same joy of representing the country that he had.
In an emotionally charged speech he delivered to the national team before it took on Serbia in a recent friendly in Lyon, Parker, who had his France jersey retired that same night, said:
"You know how much I am attached to the French national team.
"I saw what you said, Victor (Wembanyama), when you mentioned that the French jersey was your favorite. It was also my favorite jersey.
"I loved coming to the French team every summer, sacrificing my summers to come and experience strong emotions."
Parker, who won four NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs in his legendary career, says nothing touched his heart more than the times he competed with France.
"I have won many titles in the NBA, but I have never cried with joy," he said. "The only times I have had emotions that brought tears to my eyes in my career were in 2011 (at the EuroBasket in Lithuania), when we qualified for the 2012 Olympics.
"We struggled with the French team! When we got our first medal at EuroBasket in 2005, it had been 50 years since we last had a medal at the Euro.
"We started from very far behind. We were not respected at the time. In 2004, we missed the Olympics in the last game."
France had needed to win the Third-Place Game at EuroBasket 2003 in Sweden but lost in the dying seconds to Italy, 69-67.
"In 2008, we missed them again," he said.
France had had a great chance to reach the Olympics but fell in the EuroBasket 2007 Quarter-Finals, 75-71, to eventual champions Russia.
"So, in 2011, when we finally qualified, I had been in the French team since 2001, and I had tears in my eyes.
The second time I cried was when we finally won the Euro in 2013 (In Slovenia). The first title for the French team."
France came from behind to beat their nemesis, Spain, in the Semi-Finals in Ljubljana before defeating Lithuania in the Final.
"Playing for the French team will create emotions, and it's impossible to feel the same in a club," Parker said.
"It's not the same. Playing for a club is great, but representing your country is something else. So, I really wish you good luck, playing the Olympics at home is incredible. Enjoy, work hard. A medal has to be earned."
FIBA