FRA - Parker cherishes EuroBasket gold, 'thanks' Pau for long journey

PARIS (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Freshly-crowned EuroBasket 2013 champion and tournament MVP Tony Parker was quite reflective after winning France's first European crown, while also thanking Pau Gasol for making the journey long and enjoyable and calling for French coach Vincent Collet to get a 'big' contract.

"I had so much support chasing this title. The journey was unbelievable. And I would change nothing, going through pain, growing pains, ups and downs, bronze medal, silver medal and finally getting the gold is just unbelievable," said Parker, who has played at the last seven EuroBaskets and can finally call himself a European champion.

After winning the U18 European Championship title in 2000, Parker helped Les Bleus to EuroBasket bronze in 2005 and then silver in 2011.

The San Antonio Spurs star said something happened in his heart after winning the U18 title that he loved playing for France. The same thing was also true for U18 teammates Boris Diaw, Florent Pietrus and Ronny Turiaf.

"We all had that fire to play for the national team. And we promised to each other that we're gonna win the first one ever at the senior level," said Parker.

"And then Pau Gasol arrived with Spain. Then it was a long journey. Because his generation is very, very good.

"But I told Pau that he's the reason I keep coming here every year and keep pushing my team. It's like the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. You keep losing, you keep losing. But you get closer."

Parker also recalled a conversation he had with Gasol at lunch in Barcelona three months ago while in the Spanish city shooting a commercial.

"I was like '13 years and I'm still chasing. But it’s because of you'. If there were no Pau, I would have had a medal before. But it makes the journey even better because it kept me pushing and kept making the national team better," he said.

Parker didn't want to compare being an NBA champion and a European champion. But he did mention the big R word.

"With the Spurs, I won three times and hopefully I can win it one more time. And with the national team we have three more years to try to do something before I retire because then I'll be done coach," the 31-year-old said while looking over to France head coach Vincent Collet. "Just telling you (laughs)."

The playmaker also made a play for the French Federation to keep on coach Collet, whom he compared to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

"Hopefully coach Collet will stay with us because he's one of the main reasons I come back every year too. He takes care of my body. He's my coach Pop European. He doesn't kill me two practices a day and stuff like that," Parker explained.

"Sometimes he just leaves me alone but he knows that I'll show up when it's a big game. That's big for me to have coach Collet re-signed. I will have to talk to the French president to make sure he gets a big contract."

FIBA