We have known for three months: Tony Parker will be inducted into Hall of Fame next August 12 and it will be a great first for a Frenchman. The logical continuation for the one who is already the first French crowned NBA champion, named All-Star, retained in an All-NBA Team and elected MVP of the Finals…
The big day may be getting closer, but the legendary leader of the Spurs nevertheless acknowledges having hard to do » which is looming for him in about ten days.
” Until I’m in the museum, in Springfield… I think that’s where I’ll really realize and I’m going to feel crazy pressure. When it’s time to give the speech, I think I’ll find out “, admits the illustrious number 9, during an interview by videoconference.
Tony Parker will “be nervous, as ever”
Although he has had a lot of honors during his career, and is therefore a regular at acceptance speeches, Tony Parker does not see anything comparable to this entry into the Hall of Fame, ” squarely above from everything else.
” The retirement of jersey, it was something incredible, especially when you know the tradition of the NBA, but there, I think it is tenfold “, he judges for example. ” The Hall of Fame is still a step above because, when you just look at the Spurs, there are 10 jerseys retired and there are only 4 in the Hall of Fame. So that’s where you see it. They are doing a split in the United States and I feel like you are entering another galaxy, because there are very, very few players who enter the Hall of Fame. I feel the pressure and I’m very nostalgic, because I write my speech and I watch games, it’s weird. However, I had big things like Legion of Honor or National Order of Merit, but the Hall of Fame… I can compare it to my meeting with [Barack] Obama at the White House. The kind of stuff where you don’t show off too much and where you have to be ready. »
Then Tony Parker discusses more broadly the dreaded exercise of speech, which will allow him to highlight a whole bunch of people who mattered to him: “ This speech, it has nothing to do [avec le reste]. You’re tracing your whole life, it’s really not an easy exercise and I’m going to be very nervous, as never before. […] It is clear that I was born under a lucky star and I am very grateful for everything that has happened in my life. I worked hard for it, but a lot of people helped me, it’s cool to have a moment to thank everyone. »
Member of one of the best cuvées in history
In addition to Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, who will present him on the day of the ceremony, it is assumed that Gregg Popovich will also occupy a special place in the speech of “TP”, given the bond that has united them for twenty years.
” It’s a relationship that will always be very, very special, it’s like a second father “says Tony Parker. ” I came to San Antonio so young, at 19, and he took me under his wing. We will even say that he took a risk because, at the time, giving the ball to a European leader when your superstar, Tim Duncan, didn’t tell me about my whole rookie year, it’s risky. I’m the player he’s had the hardest time with at Spurs but, at the same time, we’ve achieved so many things together… It’s almost funny to enter the Hall of Fame together, we could have chosen anyone what a year for him. Plus, there will also be Becky Hammon, who’s like a big sister, so it’s just amazing to be back at the same time as them. »
Add to that Dwyane Wade, but above all Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol, two other legendary Europeans, and we get “ one of the best vintages of Hall of Fame history. In addition to demonstrating that European basketball no longer has much to envy to American basketball…
” It’s so cool to experience this with Dirk and Pau, who I have a relationship with, because I remember Americans telling us at the time that it was impossible to see a European as a franchise player and, we , we are a bit the first [à l’avoir fait] », Details the Frenchman. ” Now when I see NBA teams don’t mind having [Nikola] Jokic, [Giannis] Antetokounmpo or [Luka] Doncic as a franchise player, it shows that we have come a long way. So I’m very, very proud to enter the Hall of Fame with them, it’s an honor, and it’s cool to have three Europeans in the same vintage. »
An ambassador of French sport
” Grateful for all the love » that he was able to receive in France, and that he still receives today, as we could see this week in Pau, when the 2013 European champions were honored for the tenth anniversary of their title, Tony Parker is delighted with the current success of European and especially French basketball, which he has endeavored to raise to the rank of world reference.
” I have always taken the role of ambassador of French basketball and sport very seriously, it has always been my motivation to show Americans that we know how to play basketball in France. “, admits the interested party. ” I am very, very proud to see the French team at this level, to see the influence of my generation, to inspire so much. It’s heartwarming to hear that I’m the pioneer and it’s nice to see the level of the French team, since I remember that we started from very, very far away… European basketball didn’t respect us not, neither are the referees… Now, when you look at the French team and all the medals that you have won, it makes me very, very proud. I can’t wait for us to win another gold medal, because we only remember those who win, and this generation [Gobert/Fournier] Deserves that. »
” MEven in my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined one day entering the Hall of Fame. »
To win, Tony Parker has just been able to do in selection (Euro 2013) or in the NBA (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) and, when we look at his achievements, we notice that every ten years since 2003, he experiences an event unforgettable to say the least…
” In 2033? Win the Euroleague with ASVEL? “, he says, laughing, when asked what he hopes to live in ten years. ” 2003, I didn’t realize, being NBA champion at 21 was incredible. 2013, winning the first title with the French team was also something really special. 2023, we will still live moments that will remain engraved forever in my heart. I hope that in 2033 I can celebrate something like this. »
Difficult, however, to imagine something as strong as an induction into the Hall of Fame, as Tony Parker did not expect to be invited to such a party one day…
” Honestly, no. And yet, I’m always the first to tell the youngest that we have to dream big… “, he assumes on this subject. ” But there, even in my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined one day entering the Hall of Fame. At the time, it was impossible, there were no European leaders who had succeeded in the NBA and there were just no Europeans. Being drafted was already quite a thing. So me, I dreamed of the NBA and of becoming the first European leader to succeed in the NBA, but from there to tell myself that I would win four titles, from there to tell myself that I would become the first European MVP of the Finals or from there to talk of Hall of Fame… It’s just crazy. »
| Tony Parker | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2001-02 | SAN | 77 | 29 | 41.9 | 32.3 | 67.5 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 9.2 |
| 2002-03 | SAN | 82 | 34 | 46.4 | 33.7 | 75.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 5.3 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 15.5 |
| 2003-04 | SAN | 75 | 34 | 44.7 | 31.2 | 70.2 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 14.7 |
| 2004-05 | SAN | 80 | 34 | 48.2 | 27.6 | 65.0 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 16.6 |
| 2005-06 | SAN | 80 | 34 | 54.8 | 30.6 | 70.7 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 18.9 |
| 2006-07 | SAN | 77 | 33 | 52.0 | 39.5 | 78.3 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 5.5 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 18.6 |
| 2007-08 | SAN | 69 | 34 | 49.4 | 25.8 | 71.5 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 18.8 |
| 2008-09 | SAN | 72 | 34 | 50.6 | 29.2 | 78.2 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 22.0 |
| 2009-10 | SAN | 56 | 31 | 48.7 | 29.4 | 75.6 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 5.7 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 16.0 |
| 2010-11 | SAN | 78 | 32 | 51.9 | 35.7 | 76.9 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 6.6 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 17.5 |
| 2011-12 | SAN | 60 | 32 | 48.0 | 23.0 | 79.9 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 7.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 18.3 |
| 2012-13 | SAN | 66 | 33 | 52.2 | 35.3 | 84.5 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 7.6 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 20.3 |
| 2013-14 | SAN | 68 | 29 | 49.9 | 37.3 | 81.1 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 5.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 16.7 |
| 2014-15 | SAN | 68 | 29 | 48.6 | 42.7 | 78.3 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 14.4 |
| 2015-16 | SAN | 72 | 28 | 49.3 | 41.5 | 76.0 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 11.9 |
| 2016-17 | SAN | 63 | 25 | 46.6 | 33.3 | 72.6 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 10.1 |
| 2017-18 | SAN | 55 | 20 | 45.9 | 27.0 | 70.5 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 7.7 |
| 2018-19 | CHA | 56 | 18 | 46.0 | 25.5 | 73.4 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 9.5 |
| Total | 1254 | 31 | 49.1 | 32.4 | 75.1 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 5.6 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 15.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
