PARIS — Tony Parker will play with a French team during the NBA lockout, earning a mere $1,995 per month despite his star power on and off the basketball court.
Asvel, based in Villeurbanne, near Lyon in southeast France, announced on Wednesday that Parker will play for the team.
Parker told the sports daily L’Equipe that the decision is “logical.”
Parker, who is French, is vice president of the club and wants to help it advance.
“I’ll be playing nearly for free,” he said. “If I play the entire season, we’ll go for the title.”
Parker has won three NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs and has been an all-star selection three times.
He expects to play his first game against Paris on Oct. 14.
The San Antonio Express- News said that the contract has an opt-out clause for Parker to return to the Spurs should the NBA lockout end.
Parker was part of the French team that reached the final of EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania last month, where it was beaten 98-85 by Spain.
This will be Parker’s second stint playing in the country. From 1999 to 2001, Parker played for Paris Basket Racing after passing up offers from UCLA and Georgia Tech to attend college in America.
Denver Post wire services
