Posted at 6:37 a.m., Wednesday, October 3, 2007
NBA: Parker will take hiatus from French national team
Associated Press
PARIS — San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker will take a two-year hiatus from the French 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.
