Parker to skip French team tryouts

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker has decided to take a two-year break from the French national basketball team.

The reigning most valuable player in the NBA finals said he made the decision after meeting this week with Spurs Coach Greg Popovich, and announced his decision on his Web site Wednesday.

"(Popovich) wants me take a rest, much like Manu Ginobili did this summer by not playing the Tournament of the Americas," Parker said.

The San Antonio Express-News reported the 6-foot, 2-inch Parker said some swelling remains in the left ankle sprain he suffered while practicing with his national team in August but said he doesn't think the injury will limit him in the Spurs' preseason.

"It's better and it's getting better every day," Parker told the newspaper.

It has been a very hectic 2007 for Parker, who married television star Eva Logoria this summer in a lavish ceremony after the Spurs swept Cleveland in four games in June to win their fourth NBA title in nine years.