"(TJ) will be at the helm of Asvel next season. He has been given a three-year extension. He will coach Asvel for the next four seasons," said Tony Parker.

In the columns of the sports daily, "TP" was full of praise for his younger brother: "Since he is + head coach +, he is two out of two: twice champion of France! You can say what you want is him who manages the group on a daily basis, who directs everything. I am very proud of him and for me he is one of the best coaches in Europe."

Assistant to JD Jackson from 2013 to 2018, then to Zvezdan Mitrovic from 2018 to 2020, TJ Parker, 38, was appointed head coach of the club after the dismissal of the Montenegrin.

Under his command, Asvel won two French championship titles, the last of which, on June 25, against Monaco, in the very last moments of match 5.

In addition to his brother's contract extension, Parker has confirmed the dismissal of Pierre Vincent, the club's women's coach.

"There was a big misunderstanding (with the team leaders, editor's note), disagreements and the mayonnaise simply did not take" explained Parker.

"Pierre remains a very good coach, but it didn't take with us and I have to take into consideration what the girls feel", he added, specifying that he does not have a successor at the moment but that "it will surely be a foreign coach".

Coach of Parker and the French junior team, crowned European champion in 2000, "friend" of TP, Pierre Vincent was nevertheless fired twice by the quadruple NBA champion, from Asvel in 2014 and from women's team this year.

"It was not an easy choice, but I always said that I would try to do what is best for the club, the project, and that I would not have any qualms, whatever either for a friend or for my brother”, justified “TP”.

Asvel coach Pierre Vincent gives instructions to his players during the Pro A match against Roanne, in Roanne, October 8, 2011 THIERRY ZOCCOLAN AFP/Archives

The female Asvel delivered a white season after being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France and the Eurocoupe, and finished 3rd in the regular season in the league with six defeats.

The team is not qualified for the Euroleague.

© 2022 AFP