By Jeff McDonald and Tim Griffin
jmcdonald@express-news.net
Speaking to a French website Monday, point guard Tony Parker said he would miss backup George Hill, who was traded to Indiana on draft night for a package that included Kawhi Leonard.
“I have confidence in (the front office’s) ability to make good choices,” Parker told 20minutes.fr. “It was still very difficult to separate from George Hill, because everyone loved him. Personally, I considered him my little brother. But the NBA is a business.”
In the same interview, Parker reiterated his desire to join the French national team for the ?EuroBasket tournament in Lithuania in August, but says he will not play if a lockout prevents him from obtaining insurances against injury.
“If there’s no insurance, I won’t play, because the Spurs are No. 1 on my list,” Parker said. “But if I’m insured, I’ll definitely play.”
Earlier this month, Parker said in San Antonio that he was looking forward to playing for the French national team for the first time in his professional career.
“Playing with the national team is always something I wanted to do,” Parker said. “I’ve never been to an Olympics. In talking to Manu (Ginobili), I know it’s a great experience.”