Retired for almost four years, Tony Parker (41 years old today) will integrate this year the Hall of Fame. A great first for a Frenchman and a great revenge for the one who had been snubbed from the list of the 76 best NBA players!
Throughout his career in the United States (and incidentally in selection), the former leader of the Spurs did enough to earn his honorary status as the best French basketball player of all time.
To honor “TP”, who has become a recognized businessman, USA Basketball invites you to come back to his career, through numbers that perfectly symbolize his love affair with the orange ball.
Tony Parker, the “French GOAT”
1 – Either his number of Finals MVPs (2007). In history, three other non-American players have also won such a distinction: Hakeem Olajuwon (1994, 1995), Dirk Nowitzki (2011) then Giannis Antetokounmpo (2021). But Tony Parker is the first European to have done so.
2 – Or his number of gold medals won with the French team. They go back to Euro 2000 U18 and Euro 2013. Each time, Tony Parker was elected MVP of the tournament. He also won three other medals with the Blues: one silver, at Euro 2011, and two bronze, at Euro 2005 and Euro 2015.
3 – Either his position in the list of French players who have arrived in the NBA. Indeed, before him, in this famous tricolor clan, only Tariq Abdul-Wahad and Jérôme Moïso had played matches in the Great League. Then Tony Parker arrived.
4 – Either his number of NBA titles, obviously all won with the Spurs: in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. It is also a record for a non-American player (tied with a certain Manu Ginobili).
4 – Either his number of selections in an All-NBA Team: three in the 2nd (2012, 2013, 2014) and one in the 3rd (2009). In the French clan, only Rudy Gobert has as many.
5 – Either his place in the ballot for the title of MVP 2012, the best of his career and the 2nd best of a French player, after Joakim Noah (4th, in 2014). That year, Tony Parker inherited 4 first places and accumulated 331 points (out of 1,210 possible) thanks to voters. Enough to climb behind LeBron James (1,074 points), Kevin Durant (889 points), Chris Paul (385 points) and Kobe Bryant (352 points).
6 – Either his number of All-Star Game selections: in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014. A record for a French player. He was never in the starting lineup and averaged 8.8 points and 4.7 assists in the All-Star Game.
7.7 – Or his best assist average in a season. That was in 2011/12 and he also had 18.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, 48% on shots, 23% on 3-point range and 80% on free throws.
8 – Or his number of Player of the Week trophies. A record for a French player. He won them in February 2006, November 2007, February 2009, March 2009, December 2010, March 2011, February 2012 and January 2013.
9 – Either his historic jersey number. He wore it in San Antonio and Charlotte (and in the France team). At the Spurs, he was also retired in November 2019. Note that nine other players from the Texas franchise have received such an honor: Johnny Moore (00), Avery Johnson (6), Bruce Bowen (12), James Silas (13), Manu Ginobili (20), Tim Duncan (21), Sean Elliott (32), George Gervin (44) and David Robinson (50).
28th choice of the Draft, the French “steal”
17 – Or his number of seasons spent with Spurs, between 2001/02 and 2017/18. He never missed the playoffs during this period.
18 – Either his record of assists in a game, regular season and playoffs included. He succeeded in May 2013, against the Grizzlies, in the conference final.
22.0 – Or his best average points over a season. That was in 2008/09 and he also had 3.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game, 51% on shots, 29% on 3-point range and 78% on free throws.
28 – Either his position in the 2001 Draft, which makes him one of the most beautiful “steals” in history. He was drafted the same year as Pau Gasol, Gilbert Arenas, Joe Johnson, Zach Randolph, Tyson Chandler, Gerald Wallace and Mehmet Okur, all All-Stars as well.
29 – Either the number of matches played during the Finals. This is a record for a non-American player, tied with a certain Manu Ginobili. It is also the 39th highest total in history, far behind Bill Russell (70).
30 – Or the number of franchises against which it has a positive record. Clearly, Tony Parker is at least 50% wins against all teams in the league. In history, only Danny Green can say the same (and he also went through the Spurs), because several players did not face all the NBA franchises and several players did not play at a time when there were 30 teams in the league.
42 – Either the number of playoff series in which he took part (for 30 qualifications and 12 eliminations). In detail, this gives 17 series in the first round (13 qualifications), 13 series in the conference semi-finals (8 qualifications), 7 series in the conference finals (5 qualifications) and 5 participations in the Finals (4 coronations).
55 – Either his record for points in a game, regular season and playoffs included. He succeeded in November 2008, against Wolves, also compiling 10 assists that night.
71 – Either his overall winning percentage, alongside Tim Duncan and alongside Manu Ginobili. In detail, this gives 864 wins in 1,214 games with Duncan (71.2%) and 811 wins in 1,143 games with Ginobili (71.0%). These are, of course, his two favorite teammates, by number of wins and number of games.
81 – Or his number of clashes with Dirk Nowitzki, the opponent against whom he has played most often. In detail, this gives 53 clashes in the regular season (for 30 wins) and 28 clashes in the playoffs (for 14 wins).
6th in history in the number of playoff matches
113 – Either his number of double-doubles in career, regular season (99) and playoffs (14) included.
126 – Either his number of victories with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, in the playoffs. This is the record for a trio, ahead of the 110 victories of the Magic Johnson – Michael Cooper – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trio in the 1980s.
130 – Either his number of assists delivered during the Finals. This is a record for a non-American player. It is also the 22nd highest total in history, very far behind Magic Johnson (584).
181 – Or his number of selections in the French team, between 2000 and 2016. It is the 11th highest total in the history of the Blues, far behind the record holder Hervé Dubuisson (259) or his great pal Boris Diaw (247).
226 – Either the number of games played in the playoffs (213 starts). It is the record for a non-American player and the 6th highest total in history.
479 – Either his number of points scored during the Finals. This is a record for a non-American player. It is also the 30th highest total in history, far behind Jerry West (1,679).
575 – Or his number of victories with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, in the regular season. This is the record for a trio, ahead of the 540 victories of the trio Larry Bird – Kevin McHale – Robert Parish, in the 1980s.
1,143 – Either his number of assists delivered in the playoffs (5.1 on average). It is the record for a non-American player and the 6th highest total in history.
1,254 – Either the number of games played in the regular season (1,151 starts). This is the 2nd highest total by a non-American player (behind Dirk Nowitzki) and the 34th highest total in history.
2001 – Either the year of his first game in the NBA. It was October 30, during a reception (win) of the Clippers. That evening, at 19 years old and coming off the bench, he had compiled 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 21 minutes, with San Antonio.
2002 – Either the year of his selection in the All-Rookie First Team. No French player has obtained such an honor.
More than $168 million accumulated in salary
2012 – Either the year of his only career triple-double. It was December 10, against the Rockets: 27 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
2013 – Either the year of his only Player of the Month trophy. No other French player has obtained such a reward. It was in January, with 21.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.1 steals on average, 56% on shots, 35% on 3-pts and 78% on free throws. For 12 wins in 15 games…
2019 – Or the year of his last career game. It was March 17, during a (lost) trip to Miami. At 36 years old, he had compiled 11 points and 2 rebounds in 17 minutes that night, with Charlotte.
2,741 – Either his number of points scored in the French team. This is the 4th largest total in the history of the Blues, behind Hervé Dubuisson (3,921), Jacques Cachemire (2,843) and Stéphane Ostrowski (2,813).
4,045 – Either his number of points scored in the playoffs (17.9 on average). It is the record for a non-American player and the 10th highest total in history.
7,036 – Either his number of assists delivered in the regular season (5.6 on average). It is the record for a European player and the 19th highest total in history.
19,473 – Either his number of points scored in the regular season (15.5 on average). This is the record for a French player, the 56th highest total in history and the 3rd highest total for a European player (behind Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol).
168 282 460 – Either the total amount (in dollars) of his various salaries raised in the NBA. It’s still a record for a French player, but Rudy Gobert will soon break it, while Evan Fournier could also surpass it by the end of his career.
