Olympic Basketball 2012: Tony Parker Cleared Makes France a Medal Favorite

Tony Parker was expected to be watching the Olympics as best as he could after he scratched his cornea last month. Instead, the San Antonio Spur star will lead Team France at the London Games.

A healthy Parker has significant implications for France in the medal hunt. Their team goes from missing the 2008 Olympics to being a medal contender in London.

Reported by Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, Parker was cleared to play in the Olympics by French doctors and his NBA team.

"

From French national team release: "Green light for Parker." Release says Tony Parker (eye) has been cleared for Olympics by doctors, Spurs.

— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) July 6, 2012"

"It is great news and a relief for the whole France team," coach Vincent Collet said via an AP report in the USA Today. "I spoke with Tony on the phone and he sounded very happy — and also relieved — about this development. It was a difficult and alarming situation for everyone."

The United States is the overwhelming favorite to win gold, even if their injury news hasn't been as fortunate. Spain won the silver medal in Beijing, losing to the United States 118-107 in the finals. Their only other loss was in group play, a 119-82 defeat to the U.S. Team.

In 2012, France joins the American team in Pool A and will look to take the same route Spain did in 2008. Taking second place in group play would place them on the opposite side of the U.S. in the championship bracket. 

A win in the quarterfinals would likely set up a game against Spain to determine who battles for the gold medal and which team would play for the bronze.

Without Parker, the expectations for France would be much different. The team has good starting talent, but lacks depth, particularly at point guard.

Rodrigue Beaubois would likely have stepped in for Parker if he couldn't play. He is an NBA talent, playing for the Dallas Mavericks, but he doesn't have the experience or talent level of Parker.

Following down years in the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Parker had a great lockout-shortened season in 2011-12. He averaged 18.3 points per game and embraced his role helping his teammates score. He logged a career-high 7.7 assists per game.

Parker will have ample talent to pass the ball to on the French team. He's joined by Nicolas Batum, who will need a distraction following his current battle with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Parker will also be playing with San Antonio teammate Boris Diaw.

The real test for France will be if their reserves can keep pace with the better teams in the tournament. They are joined in pool play by a talented team from Argentina that won the bronze medal in 2008.

France will need to beat them in pool play to maintain a realistic shot at the gold medal game. The schedule won't be easy, though. They open play against the United States on July 29th, followed by Argentina on the 31st.

The top four teams from the six-team pools advance to the championship rounds that begin August 8th. The gold and bronze medal games will be held on Sunday, August 12th.

According to the Associated Press, Parker's eye was injured in a nightclub brawl that flared between the entourages of rappers Drake and Chris Brown.