American style. The FFBB had organized yesterday evening, after the match against Serbia, the first jersey retirement ceremony in its history. And it was logically for Tony Parkerthe greatest player in the history of the French men's team, whose #9 jersey had already been retired by the Spurs in the NBA.
At the LDCL Arena, the French Basketball Federation had adopted all the codes of the Major League ceremonies, ending with the raising of Tony Parker's jersey at the heart of a pyrotechnic display.
What better symbol for TP, who has embodied this dual culture throughout his career, between his taste for celebrations and the US mentality, and his attachment to the blue jersey.
After the speeches by Jean-Pierre Siutat, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw, Tony Parker opened up like never before. The four-time NBA champion (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014), U18 European champion (2000) and European champion among the big boys (2013) notably thanked all the coaches he has met with the tricolor jersey.
A tribute to all his coaches
From Lucien Legrand among the youngsters, who let him play his atypical game for a leader, to Pierre Vincent, who taught him to play with his teammates, via Claude Bergeaud, Michel Gomez and especially Vincent Collet, “the greatest coach in the history of the French team” In his eyes, Tony Parker wanted to salute all the technicians who helped him progress and finally achieve this long-awaited title, during EuroBasket 2013.
Because as he explained, despite all the titles won with San Antonio, TP would have felt like he had failed in his career if he had not won a gold medal with the Blues.
Yesterday's ceremony was a celebration of this obsession, which began in Zadar, during the European youth championship, already alongside Boris Diaw, and which has written the most beautiful pages in the history of French basketball.
