It's not just football, Formula 1 and even tennis in Netflix's increasingly substantial collection of sports documentaries.
Basketball too: after "The Last Dance", a series devoted to Michael Jordan, the American platform is offering from this Wednesday, January 6 a 1h30 film on Tony Parker, 38 years old and young retiree from the NBA, where he gleaned four titles at the head of the San Antonio Spurs.
Among the highlights, a long interview with Kobe Bryant shortly before his fatal helicopter crash, and who was close to Tony Parker.
A film that the former historical playmaker of the Spurs has co-produced with the company Black Dynamite and Alessandra Sublet.
The journalist had also proposed a first version on TMC in March 2020, "Tony Parker Confidential".
This time, she no longer appears on the screen.
Netflix has designed a different film, in a more international format, in which the Spurs star opens his doors and also appears in his difficulties, especially when he started.
The title of your film, "The Final Shot", is a nod to "The Last Dance", the odyssey dedicated by Netflix to your idol Michael Jordan ...
TONY PARKER.
Yeah, I found that funny.
I especially wanted to make this documentary to bring together my memories, for my family, my children, my friends, that's why we had decided to open all the doors of my daily life, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. , for a year and a half.
What amuses me is that at the time I did a little interview for "The Last Dance" which was not due out before 2023, I believe.
But because of the confinement, they released it much earlier, last year, a few months before my film.
Basketball is not very represented on Netflix ...
No, there are very few things, they are starting.
That's why for me it was an honor when they approached me.
Netflix is kind of the benchmark, so many people are watching this platform.
The raw material of the film already existed under the title "Tony Parker confidential", but in another version ...
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It has nothing to do.
“The Final Shot” is completely different, much more sports-oriented.
And with a more international distribution.
We see you as a teenager.
Have you been surprised by these excerpts from your first steps, or almost under the baskets?
It's always nice.
I'm really lucky that my mom filmed so much when I was little.
It was often she who filmed.
We forgot that you had a hard time when you arrived in the NBA ...
It was important to show what really happened.
Sometimes we make a bit of shortcuts to the titles and all the success that eventually happened.
But behind that there are failures like everyone else and moments of doubt.
I wanted to show the real story.
Tim Duncan, the star when you first joined the club at 19, really refused to talk to the "little Frenchman" for an entire season?
I know it's hard to believe but it's the truth
(laughs)
.
PODCAST. Once upon a time Tony Parker
How did you endure the incessant rants of your coach Greg Popovitch?
It takes a lot of self-confidence.
It was his way of being.
He had a military education himself.
That's why his words to me when I left
(Editor's note: the coach apologized for his “physical and mental abuse”)
hypertouched me.
It must have worked ...
At some point in your career, you change your shooting technique by starting over from scratch.
Is it a bit of the school of life?
Yes, there will always be ups and downs, for everyone.
That's a career, and also life: don't get too excited when things are going well, don't be too hard on yourself when things are going badly.
You run a basketball club in France, Asvel (Lyon-Villeurbanne), and you have acquired two ski resorts in the Alps.
As a boss, are you also affected by the pandemic?
I am touched like everyone else.
It is very difficult, but we must try to remain positive, united and mobilized.
Above all, do not fall into discouragement.
Me, in any case, that's what I try to do with my teams.
EDITOR'S RATING: 4/5
“The Final Shot”,
by Florent Bodin, 1h30, available from January 6 on Netflix.