After a brief stopover in the United States, Tony Parker returned to Paris bearing the news he’d been hoping for.
After consulting with an eye specialist in New York, at the Spurs’ request, the All-Star point guard has been cleared to play with the French national team in the London Olympics later this month.
Parker, who suffered a scratched cornea in his left eye during a June 14 melee at a Manhattan night spot, announced the decision with a post on his website (TP9.net) early Friday morning.
“I’m really happy I got the green light from (the) Spurs,” Parker posted in French.
The posting also included a line that required no translation: “Merci, Pop” — a thank you to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich for blessing his trip to London.
The French open Olympic play July 29 against the U.S. It will mark Les Bleus’ first Olympic appearance in 12 years, and the first ever for the 30-year-old Parker.
In a blink last month in New York, Parker’s Olympic dreams flashed before his eyes.
Parker was not directly involved in the altercation between singer Chris Brown and a member of hip-hop star Drake’s entourage at the club W.i.P., but was struck by debris from a broken bottle.
Three days later, a doctor in France performed surgery to remove a shard of glass from Parker’s eye.
Claiming negligence, Parker filed a $20 million lawsuit against the club, which has since closed down.
The Spurs, who signed Parker to a four-year, $50 million contract extension before the 2010-11 season, insisted the second-team All-NBA selection for last season return to the U.S. for re-examination before taking the floor for the Games.
The Spurs had no official comment on Parker’s recovery Friday. In an interview last week, general manager R.C. Buford indicated the team would exercise due caution before giving Parker — who finished fifth in NBA MVP voting for 2011-12 — the nod to play with Les Bleus’.
“If you know our history, Pop is going to put the health of our players above all else in relation to putting them out on the court,” Buford said.
According to a release from the French Basketball Federation, the positive prognosis two U.S. ophthalmologists gave Parker echoed the opinion of the French doctor who performed the surgery, as well as two Swiss specialists who examined Parker earlier in the week.
As a precaution, Parker will play in London wearing protective eyewear. He tweeted a photo of himself in the specs Friday.
“It is great news, and a relief for the whole France team,” French coach Vincent Collet said in the release. “I spoke with Tony on the phone and he sounded very happy —and also relieved — about this development. It was a difficult and alarming situation for everyone.”
jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN