Tony Parker to French radio station: 'I will play the first game of the Finals'

If Tony Parker is a reliable source on the status of Tony Parker's injured left ankle, then Tony Parker will be playing for the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night when they open their NBA Finals series against the Miami Heat.

Earlier reports had suggested that the Spurs were already optimistic that Parker, who injured the ankle in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals but has been dealing with minor issues for most of the season, would play. Parker's confirmation, while hardly gospel, is a solid confirmation.

Parker relayed the news to a French radio station on Tuesday. Here is what he had to say, as reported by Dan McCarney of The San Antonio Express-News:

I twisted my ankle in Game 4 of the first round against Dallas. I continued to play with the pain and I again twisted the ankle in Game 4 of the conference finals against Oklahoma City. I gritted my teeth; I did not mean to abandon my teammates. But the pain was too strong in the sixth game. I could not really play anymore.

Today, I spend my days in treatment. But the good news is that I will play the first game of the Finals on Thursday against the Heat. I may not be 100% but I’ll be there.

A Parker at less than 100 percent is still better than no Parker at all, but the Spurs will probably want to be confident that the risk of re-injury is low before giving him their own official green light.