While France and the United States are still in full madness with the arrival of Victor Wembanyama to the Spurs of San Antonio, other budding basketball players dream of imitating the giant of 2.21 meters. And who better than Tony Parker to guide them down this path?
The best French player of all time has founded his own basketball school, where classic training is mixed with schooling. In a six-episode documentary, Tony Parker Academy, one year at the school of champions, directed by Constance de Médina and Grégory Baucomont for Canal, we dive into the daily lives of these young people who want to land one day in the prestigious NBA.
The Lyon-based establishment opened its doors recently: in September 2019. The Tony Parker Adéquat Academy is also linked to the ASVEL training center in Villeurbanne, the flagship club of the Lyon region whose former leader of the Bleus is the current president.
??? ???? ????????? ???? ???? ????????? “?????? ???? ?????? ????????????, ???? ???? ??? ??’????????? ?? ???? ???????????? » ??’?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????:???? !
The idea is to put young people in the best conditions with half a day devoted to lessons and the other to sometimes very intense training. We follow the journey of several teenagers: Carla, Chirine, Livio, Romain and Zaccharie, who all have high ambitions. But with injuries, school exams and the fast pace each week, these special students have to pull out of the game. In the documentary, they share their dreams but also their fears and their hopes.
If the series shows us fewer strong moments than the cult À la Clairefontaine (2002) with Abou Diaby and Hatem Ben Arfa who come to blows, the series remains very interesting to understand behind the scenes and the American mentality instilled by Tony Parker to his students. We are thus witnessing some cropping in the rules of the art to show that no gift will be made to these young basketball players.
With small class sizes and many training sessions, everything is being done to allow these promises of basketball to develop. “Basketball is my whole life,” says Carla. I don’t plan to do anything else for the next twenty years. This year, I have two goals, to go professional and get my baccalaureate, which is not a foregone conclusion. »
Even if they all dream of glory and the floor, education remains a major issue, as Tony Parker insists. And for those who will not be able to get the precious sesame with the professional world of basketball, the academy strives to support its students for other professions related to this universe such as physical trainers, physiotherapists, press or coaches.
Tony Parker Academy, a year at the school of champions, to see on Canal and in replay on MyCanal with two new episodes every Sunday.
