Former San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker was one of the first basketball players from France to make a significant impact in the National Basketball Association.
Parker has made plenty of appearances at the Parc des Princes, too, whether it’s to take in a game or to be a guest of honor for Paris Saint-Germain. However, it’s not often that you’ll see Parker talk about football and his love of PSG.
A few years ago, the 37-year-old bought into ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne (French professional basketball team), and last year, Olympique Lyonnais purchased a 25 percent stake in the ASVEL men’s team, plus a 10 percent stake in the ASVEL women’s team.
Despite being business partners with Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, it seems as though Parker is still a fan, or at least holds Les Parisiens, in high regard. Recently, the former Spurs guard spoke with OLTV, where he expressed PSG’s importance to French football.
“I think it’s great to have a team like that in France. It pulls up. Everyone loves to play against the big team. I find that PSG is great for football, for French football, and that is what makes the beauty of sport,” Parker said. “Just because you have the biggest team or the biggest budget doesn’t mean you’re sure to be a champion. Monaco demonstrated it two years ago; I believe (in 2017 in reality), they won the title of champion. PSG is great for French sport.”
I’m sure Aulas loved hearing Parker compliment PSG…
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