Why Tony Parker prefers that French LNB teams be reduced to 16 / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP Credit PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP

Tony Parker spoke to French outlet 'Progress', before the start of the 2021-2022 LNB playoffs.

Tony Parker

Position:PGAge:40Height:188 cmWeight:84 kgBirth place:Bruges, BelgiumProfileNewsStatistics

Two-time defending champions, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, start their 2022 playoffs this Tuesday evening.

Tony Parker's team hosts Cholet Basket in Game 1 of the quarterfinals. After a very complicated EuroLeague season, the team coached by TJ Parker finished first in the regular season and will have the home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Asked about the team's progress at the beginning of these final stages, president Tony Parker congratulated his squad.

"We had so many injuries that it was hard to go for that first place and I'm really proud of the team. They didn't give up."

If ASVEL were to win a third title in a row, it would be a feat achieved only four times in the history of the French league, by Mulhouse (1924, 1925 and 1926), ASVEL (1955, 1956 and 1957), and Limoges CSP twice (1983, 1984, 1985 and 1988, 1989 and 1990). In fact, ASVEL, according to its president, is the favorite.

"It's because we have won the last two titles," Parker said. "We know very well that it's very hard to win the title three times in a row. And Cholet are a very dangerous opponent."

During this interview, Tony Parker took the opportunity to give his position on the future of the French league. For him, it must move to 16 clubs, as planned, while this change is questioned by some of the LNB clubs.

"I think we have problems in attracting TV interest and television networks would rather have 16 clubs than 18. We have to know what we want. I'm having a hard time understanding the situation. We all agreed that it was better for the future of French basketball to have 16 elite clubs," Parker noted.

That's a statement that will probably not be to the liking of several clubs in the second part of the table and Pro B.

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