FanHouse Catches Up With Tony Parker

For a team as perennially successful as the Spurs, 2007-08 could be labeled as a disappointment (the Spurs fell to the Lakers in the West Finals). But on the heels of San Antonio's elimination, point guard Tony Parker received some good news: He was named the cover guy for EA's NBA LIVE 2009. While being on the cover might not be the same as winning a title, it's still a pretty big deal to the guys who are actually featured in the game. FanHouse got a chance to chat with Parker about everything from being EA's cover dude to who he likes in this summer's Olympics. Here's what he had to say:

Kim: "Can you talk about how the Spurs' season ended? Would you sum it up as a disappointment? Or did you guys push it as far as you could?"

Parker: "I think in order to win the championship, you have to have a lot of stuff going your way. If you put everything in perspective, we had two tough series with Phoenix and New Orleans, so you have to be pretty happy with the season we had. Obviously people are disappointed because we didn't win the championship, but we will come back next year and try to do it again."

Kim: "How much would having a healthy Manu have helped you guys?"

Parker: "Well, I'm sure it would have been a lot different if Manu was 100 percent, but with if's you can redo the world, and I don't want to talk like that. We just need to focus on next season. I've been here seven years, and coach Popovich always has us ready to contend for the title. Next season won't be any different."

Kim: "Have you been in touch with a lot of your teammates this summer? What's the team's frame of mind so far?

Parker: "Definitely. I'm always in touch with my teammates. And everyone's spirits are good."

Kim: "How about Coach Popovich?"

Parker: "Yeah, I actually had dinner and lunch with him recently in New York. We didn't talk about basketball, though. Just kind of caught up."

Kim: "Who are you rooting for in this summer's Olympics in the basketball tournament?"

Parker: "Well, I'll obviously be rooting for Argentina because two of my teammates - Manu (Ginobili) and Fabricio (Oberto) play for them. But I also like Russia too because I'm good friends with Andrei Kirilenko. I wish them both luck, but we'll see. The U.S. is coming with a very good team as well."

Kim: "Do you think the U.S. is the team to beat?"

Parker: "Yes, definitely."

Kim: "What do you think of the U.S. going with a smaller lineup?"

Parker: "It was an interesting choice. Maybe they can get by because in Europe they play small. It's an interesting choice, but I think going smaller is a good thing. It should help them."

Kim: "Can you talk about the reports that J.R. Smith might be a player the Spurs are going after?"

Parker: "I have no idea. It may be true, or maybe it's not. I've been on vacation a lot so I haven't really talked to anyone about it, or thought about what it would mean for us to have him."

Kim: "Where did you go on vacation?"

Parker: "We went everywhere. Russia, Zurich, Italy, France ..."

Kim: "How are you going to spend your summer besides traveling?"

Parker: "Well, I'll start practicing and working out soon."

Kim: "Anything you're going to work on in particular?"

Parker: "I'm going to work on some strength and try to get in the weight room. I'll also be working on my outside shot."

Kim: "Steve Nash held a charity soccer game here in New York recently. Did you not play because you didn't want to embarass him?"

Parker: "(Laughs) Oh no. He asked me to play but I couldn't because I had to be here in San Antonio. It would've been fun, though."

Kim: "OK well, on to NBA Live. You're on the cover this year for the first time. How psyched are you about that?"

Parker: "It's a great honor to be on the cover. I'm very very honored and very happy. I've been playing the game since I was small, and I've been on the cover for five years in France. Now, to be the first European player featured on the cover makes it very special, especially since it's a global cover that'll be sold in every country."

Kim: "So you had the cover in France for five years? Boris Diaw never bumped you?"

Parker: "Well, we did one year together. We shared it."

Kim: "I know you're a big rap fan and you've cut some tracks yourself. Is being on the cover a bigger honor than doing a guest track on, say, a Jay-Z record?"

Parker: "(Laughs) Well, that'd be great, but it's different. It's very different. But both are very prestigious."