Parker can't play in Euro qualifiers

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PARIS, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker said the NBA champions won't let him play for France in qualifying for the 2005 European Championships.

Parker, a native who played for France last summer in Eurobasket 2003, missed San Antonio's first seven games with an ankle injury he admitted is still bothering him and may be a chronic injury.

"The San Antonio Spurs want me to rest this summer," Parker told Le Parisien, a French publication. "They see how tired I am at the moment; I now feel the effects of what I did last summer. My right ankle is not really better, I think I will be suffering with that all season."

Parker started at point guard for the French, who reached the medal round of Eurobasket 2003 but lost twice to finish fourth and out of the 2004 Olympics.