Report: Parker to skip Basketball World Cup

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It's been a very long summer for San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker. Not only did he and the Spurs make it to the 2013 NBA Finals in June, he just finished summer play with Team France, capturing EuroBasket gold.

With the win, France qualifies for the 2014 World Cuop in Spain this summer, but if Team France wants to qualify for the Rio Olympic games, they might have to do it without Parker.

According to French site Journal du Dimanche, Tony's father, Tony Parker Sr., stated his son will skip the 2014 FIBA World Cup citing the need for rest and a focus on EuroBasket 205 and the 2016 Olympic games:

Via Basket USA:

"TP would have chosen to ignore the "World Cup" in Spain. Objective: To focus on the following two dates that are the Euro 2015 and the Olympics in Rio in 2016."

This news must have been music to the ears of the Spurs front office and entire organization.

The Spurs have in previous years have expressed their desire for Parker to limit his playing time for the French National Team. Case in point, this summer by GM R.C. Buford.

Especially since the Spurs are looking to make a big push to get Tim Duncan one more NBA ring before he rides off in to the sunset and directly in to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Following the injuries to Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Russell Westbrook that seriously hindered their teams, the NBA’s concern about the extra games being played may have some merit.

So Spurs’ fans, do you believe that the extra rest for Parker will yield Duncan that final ring?