NBA legend Tony Parker believes France is on the brink of dethroning the United States as Olympic champions, following their second-place finish in Tokyo and Paris.
Despite the upcoming 2028 Games in Los Angeles, Parker, a former San Antonio Spurs guard, is optimistic about the talent emerging in France, such as NBA draft picks Victor Wembanyama and Zaccharie Risacher.
“I think basketball in France is growing tremendously, and we are riding a wave right now,” said Parker, who recently had his national team jersey retired. “The future looks bright, and I believe we can continue to improve.”
Although France’s last major win was at EuroBasket in 2013 when Parker was on the team, the country has seen five top-10 draft picks in the last two years. Parker highlighted Spurs center Wembanyama as a player with a promising future.
“With leaders like Victor, I believe we can have a formidable team in 2028,” said the 42-year-old Parker. “The best is yet to come.”
At an NBA Fan Fest event in Hong Kong, Parker, along with former NBA player Cuttino Mobley, encouraged local children to dream big. Parker, who is also a majority owner and president of French basketball club ASVEL, is confident in the future of basketball in France.
