Tony Parker named Pau Gasol as the reason France hasn't won more medals / News - Basketnews.com

Tony Parker, who will enter the Hall of Fame alongside Pau Gasol next week, has highlighted the importance of the Spanish legend while recalling the past duels against him.

Credit: Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images Credit Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images

On August, the World Cup in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia will begin. Spain and France are serious candidates to win the title, although the USA are projected as the No.1 favorite.

Pau Gasol

Position:PFAge:43Height:213 cmWeight:113 kgBirth place:Barcelona, SpainProfileNewsStatistics

When asked during a videoconference meeting with international media attended by the Spanish Press Agency (EFE) how he remembered the clashes against Spain in the past,Tony Parkerstressed that "if Pau Gasol had not been born, we would have won more gold medals."

"We have had a great rivalry with Spain. I always say thank you Pau for being there and pushing me and the French team to be better," the LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne's majority shareholder added.

Both Parker, 41, and Pau Gasol, 43, will be members of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame class of 2023 in the induction ceremony that will take place on August 12. The 2013 EuroBasket winner with France said he's happy to be able to enter the NBA Hall of Fame with someone who's had as a rival since he was 14 years old and as a teammate in the San Antonio Spurs.

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Spain and France have a long history of rival games, be it in knockout stages, semifinals or in title-deciding matches. Most recently, Spain beat France 88-76 in the 2022 EuroBasket final to claim their fourth gold medal in the tournament.

"I loved playing against Spain because it made me a better player and I have always been fascinated by the mentality of the Spanish team, which I have been inspired by," Parker acknowledged.

As time flies, several players just refuse to quit from 'La Roja'. Veterans like Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez and Ricky Rubio are still making the cut. Parker explained that the key is that they are players with "a lot of passion for basketball."

The Frenchman recognized that Spain was "the team to beat" for having "an incredible generation with Pau Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro, Sergio Llull and Ricky Rubio", which he defined as "one of the best in the history of Europe".

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