Parker seeking golden goodbye to France career

Tony Parker of France looks on in “Club France” in Rio de Janeiro on August 3, 2016 ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. / AFP PHOTO / Jeff PACHOUD

France’s star point guard Tony Parker is hoping for the perfect send off in what is expected to be his last Olympics in Rio.

Parker, 34, led France to the first gold medal in their history as MVP at the 2013 European basketball championships, but an Olympic medal has so far escaped the four-time NBA champion.

“I want to finish in style with this France team,” said Parker ahead of France’s debut in Rio against Australia on Saturday.

“It has been 15 or 16 years of my life. I have invested every summer for this team.”

However, Parker insists a place on the podium is not an “obsession” after ending a long wait for an international title three years ago.

“If we can win a medal it will be a bonus, but it is not an obsession,” added Parker.

“Bringing a first title to France was a dream and we did that in 2013. We started from the bottom and tried to take this team to the highest level.”

France will get an early test of their medal chances when they face a USA side in search of a sixth gold in seven Games in the group stages.

And despite the absence of NBA MVP Steph Curry and Lebron James, Parker insists the Americans will sill be hard to beat in Rio.

“They remain very strong. It will be very, very hard to hang with them.”