Tony Parker, Thomas Heurtel discuss upcoming Olympics, possible reunion at ASVEL / News - Basketnews.com

Thomas Heurtel explained his decision to sign with Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2022 and laid down the conditions on which he could make the French NT in the Paris Olympics. Tony Parker, on the other hand, would love to see his former teammate back at ASVEL.

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In an appearance on The SKWEEK Show, a talk show program hosted by the legendary Tony Parker (president of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne), Thomas Heurtel highlighted the problems that his adventure in Russia has caused him amidst the war with Ukraine and what it has meant for his professional career.

Tony Parker

Position:PGAge:41Height:188 cmWeight:84 kgBirth place:Bruges, BelgiumProfileNewsStatistics

One of the frontal issues with the the veteran French point guard was not only his signing with a Russian club, Zenit St. Petersburg, in the complex context of the war conflict that Russia is waging to this day, but the way he did it. Heurtel wasn't offered a contract extension by Real Madrid in the summer of 2022 after only one campaign in the Spanish capital, and reached an agreement with the Russians when their teams had just been banned from the EuroLeague.

Heurtel received a lot of backlash when the French federation decided to exclude from the national team all players under contract with a Russian club. Those who wanted to participate with France in FIBA competitions were forced to sign a declaration pledging not to sign with a Russian team; Heurtel adhered with that document. And, once the EuroBasket was over, his arrival in St. Petersburg became official.

"My oath in that letter was fraudulent," the point guard told the show.

"That's why it was important to break it into pieces. Everyone knew that."

According to him, the agreement with Zenit existed before the EuroBasket and he signed knowing that it was a mere convention in the face of public opinion.

At the age of 34, Heurtel continues at Zenit, who doesn't compete in international competitions and essentially prevents the French guard from fulfilling the Olympic dream.

"I have not discussed it with [French federation president, Jean-Pierre] Siutat, but I have discussed it with Boris Diaw [the GM] and [coach] Vincent Collet. They have told me that if I am still under contract with Zenit for next year it is impossible for me to be in the Olympic Games. I have to sign someone else before they announce the team. And they will do so in April," he clarified.

Heurtel said he doesn't know of any player who will accept a new dealbefore June, and added that he has one more year left on his contract with Zenit. This means that agreeing with another club would be illegal.

The player mentioned that he is now "making a sacrifice" by playing in Russia because he's "no longer 23 years old" and has to think about his family. He also assured that he currently earns twice as much as the EuroLeague clubs offered him.

However, he declared himself willing to return to the EuroLeague next year even if it is with a lower salary.

Tony Parker, in his capacity as the president of the ASVEL, candidly confessed:

"Of course we would be interested in having Thomas on our team. But for now, we are not financially strong enough to afford a player like him."

Heurtel's dismissal from Barca in 2021 led him to play at ASVEL when he already had an agreement to leave for Madrid a few months later.

"He knows that I have respect and affection for him," Parker continued.

"Let's see if we can make you an interesting offer next year (2025). Not now, because the budget will not be defined until the middle of June," the French legend revealed.

Credit IMAGO/PanoramiC - Scanpix

Heurtel averaged 10.4 points and 7.1 assists in the 2022 EuroBasket, where France won the silver medal. He missed out on the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where Les Bleus didn't go past the first round that was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. And now, he's bound to miss another big event, the first Olympic Games France will get to host after 100 years.

"It's a pity to forget about the best point guard you have available," Parker commented on Heurtel's absence from the coming Olympics.

"Of course I was sad that I could not be with the national team last summer, even with the bad results they had. My goal is to be at the games," the player responded.

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