You knew Tony Parker as a four-time NBA champion, a member of the Hall of Fame for a month, owner of Asvel, the most successful club in French basketball, owner of a ski resort, vineyards or even of a racing horse stable. Perhaps you had heard of the radio host when he ran his own show on RMC or was behind podcasts for two years. From this Friday, September 15, get used to Tony Parker TV host. At 41, the activity bulimic launched the “Skweek Show by Tony Parker”. The program is broadcast every Friday at 6 p.m., accessible free of charge and on YouTube from the following Monday.
As its name suggests, to see it, you must connect to the Skweek platform, the new privileged contact for French basketball. Skweek, for a subscription of 9.99 euros per month, has been broadcasting since this season the matches of BetClic Élite, the French Championship, the women’s league, the Euroleague and the Eurocup, the two biggest European ball cups. orange. “I want to do something unique, to create special moments and to engage in big debates, deep discussions. I want us to get comfortable, come to my living room and talk,” explains the San Antonio Spurs legend, whose show is, according to the guests, in English (with subtitles) or in French.
A discussion, yes, but not with just anyone. The 5-star guests of the first number of the show, modeled on the American model of First Take broadcast on ESPN, are the Spaniard Pau Gasol, the German Dirk Nowitzki, the American Olympic champion in 2008, Dwyane Wade and two close friends of TP and basketball connoisseurs: Thierry Henry, the new coach of the French junior football team and Matt Pokora, singer and future shareholder of the Strasbourg club.
“The show was recorded in Springfield, USA when we were all there for the Hall of Fame ceremony,” says Tony Parker. However, the show will not only talk about basketball. I will have guests who will come from the world of entertainment, gastronomy, culture or elsewhere. We’ll talk about sports and everything. We will also talk about difficult subjects. I want to create a show where we say what we think. »
Michael Jordan and Barack Obama soon to face TP?
Nicolas Batum, captain of the unsuccessful French team at the World Cup, and Victor Wembanyama live from TP’s house in San Antonio, will be among the next guests. “We don’t forbid ourselves anything,” continues TP. Skweek gives me the means and carte blanche. We will mainly record in Paris, because I am lucky to have a great studio available. » 300 m2 south of Paris with lounge, billiards and of course a basketball court to relax guests. “We will also travel according to our needs and desires,” hopes TP. Everything is possible for our guests too. Depending on the agenda, why not have Michael Jordan or Barack Obama. I’ve always said you have to dream big. I’m not going to change now. »
Created a year ago, Skweek belongs to businessman of Russian origin Aleksej Fedoricsev, owner of the Roca Team, the Monegasque basketball team champion of France. For the title in 2024, we are already promising a fight between Monaco and Villeurbanne, the club of… Tony Parker. In other words, the boss of Asvel works for the platform of his main rival on the floors.
“It’s not a problem,” insists the former player. Obviously, when Asvel plays against Monaco, I will be happy to beat them. In the meantime, I have a lot of respect for what he does for French basketball. Skweek is investing a lot, and I don’t take that lightly. I want us to be able to develop French basketball, and that happens through programs like our show. We are on an ultra-positive wave for French basketball. I really believe in the proverb, there is strength in numbers. Our show has a role to play in all of this. It will be one of my priorities in my schedule. »
During this very special season, Tony Parker will not hesitate to give his opinion on the good progress of basketball: the championship, the NBA, Wembanyama, the French team and of course the upcoming Games. And he has no intention of being tongue-in-cheek: “Since I became NBA champion, MVP (best player) of the finals in 2007, I no longer worry about what people think of me . I focus on people who like me and follow me. Others… “
