 As a fan of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) , Henry is often seen with his friend Tony Parker at games when not playing football . Henry stated in an interview that he admires basketball , as it is similar to football in pace and excitement . Having made regular trips to the NBA Finals in the past , he went to watch Parker and the San Antonio Spurs in the 2007 NBA Finals ; and in the 2001 NBA Finals , he went to Philadelphia to help with French television coverage of the Finals as well as to watch Allen Iverson , whom he named as one of his favourite players . 
