Spurs' Parker to take leave from French team
San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker will take a two-year hiatus from France's national team. Parker said on his Web site Wednesday he needed time to rest and pledged to return to the team in time for the 2009 European championship in Poland.
"It has been many years that I am playing more than 120 games a year," Parker said. "In the end, my body is at risk."
Parker said he made the decision after meeting Tuesday with his coach and teammates.
Parker led France to the quarterfinals of the European Basketball Championship in September, but the team failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Parker, who was born in Belgium and grew up in France, is scheduled to play when the Spurs open the season against Portland on Oct. 30.
In San Antonio Wednesday after the Spurs' second day of training camp, Parker said he wants next summer to recuperate.
"I'll try to get some rest for my body and spend some time with Eva (Longoria, his wife). So I'll take a break for a little bit," Parker said. "I will use that summer to rest and make sure my body will be OK."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Parker's decision shows maturity.
"I think he's thinking down the road, thinking about his career as far as what he wants to do with the Spurs and how many times he wants to try to play for a championship, what kind of toll it will take on his body in the long run," Popovich said.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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