Tony Parker on Victor Wembanyama & the rising influence of French players in the NBA

Yahoo Sports’ Kerri Walsh Jennings chats with legendary NBA star and Olympian Tony Parker at the Visa Lounge for Chase Sapphire Reserve to discuss France’s potential for gold in this year’s Olympics and the growing French influence in the NBA.

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Video Transcript

Kerri Walsh Jennings here with Yahoo Sports and I’m sitting with a legendary, the incredible Tony Parker, former NBA star forever an Olympian.

And I’m here at the Visa Lounge for Chase Sapphire Reserve.

France has yet to win a gold medal for French basketball.

But in Tokyo, you guys took home silver.

So do you think this is your year?

I think we have a very talented team but it’s still gonna be tough to, to beat the U. Si think the US this year uh with lebron and KD and Steph Curry, I think it’s going to be very, very hard to beat them.

So it would be very nice to be in the finals.

Uh I’ll be super happy if we make the finals, but then I think we have to be realistic even if the US during the preparation.

You think like, oh maybe they beatable this year.

I’m like, man, when it’s going to be game time, it’s going to be very, very hard to beat them.

I think they’re going to get the gold medal that the French influence in the NBA is just growing, you know, you have Victor, you have just these incredible athletes and it’s all your fault.

What are your feelings that as a French influence grows within the NBA that affects the Olympic movement?

Actually, to be honest with you, Carrie, I feel very proud and to inspire a whole generation.

When I arrived, it was only two French guys and uh and I was the first French guy to be an NBA champion to be all star.

And so to have back to back number one pick with Victor and now Zakari who came in my academy, they both came from my academy, both played in my French team.

We both won championships with my French team to see.

Now they play at the highest level at the Olympic stage.

It’s amazing and I never thought in my wildest dream and I always dream big, but that’s pretty special.

Victor is obviously playing for the Spurs, your old franchise.

What guidance did you give him to, you know, have sustained excellence as a Spur is…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/tony-parker-victor-wembanyama-growing-131734713.html

Author : Yahoo Sports Videos

Publish date : 2024-07-31 13:17:34

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