” Tony Parker ? » Sixers fullback Josh Richardson asks us“one of the greatest point guards of all time,” he replies without hesitation. This exchange with the native of Oklahoma, younger of the Spurs legend by 11 years, is symbolic of the reputation of Tony Parker in the world and in the history of the orange ball.
In 2019, DNA of Sports went to meet former teammates, coaches, and opponents of the Frenchman in the NBA to ask them their opinion on the career of Tony Parker. Whether American, French, Spanish, or even Brazilian, they all wanted to pay tribute to the role that the future Hall Of Famer played in transcending the image of basketball in France, helping its internationalization, and marking the spirits of generations of basketball players in the United States and around the world.
“Pop and Tony have created a great partnership. Pop brought him down to earth, he coached him extremely hard”
One only has to take a look at the NBA today to understand that Tony Parker, alongside Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and others, opened the door to the many European players who came after him. Nothing more normal than seeing Luka Doncic or Giannis Antetokounmpo be the face of their respective franchise, but in the early 2000s, when the Frenchman landed in San Antonio, foreign players had everything to prove.
“Looking back, it’s pretty amazing,” note Brett Brown, the coach of the Sixers and former Spurs, who worked with TP for twelve years. “He was a 19-year-old kid who was given the ball, and he was told, go talk to David Robinson, go talk to Tim Duncan and show them the way. As a leader, French, 19 years old, it was difficult! But he did. »
Under the iron hand of Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker rose through the ranks, not without difficulty. ” Pop and Tony have created a great partnership. Pop brought him down to earth, he coached him extremely hard,” recalls Brett Brown. “It’s a legendary story, and I feel privileged to have been able to live a large part of this adventure.
Four NBA championship titles, the first European to win the Finals MVP trophy, six All-Star Game selections, four All-NBA team selections, a place in the Top 10 of the best scorers in the history of the playoffs… If the The Frenchman’s record is quite simply one of the finest for a playmaker, it is his character and his work ethic that add to his legend.
“He’s a great player but above all he’s a great guy,” insists Tiago Splitter, former teammate of Tony Parker in San Antonio and now assistant coach in Brooklyn. “I remember when I came to San Antonio, he invited me to his house, he showed me all his championship rings and he said to me, ‘You’re going to have one someday’, and he had reason. A few years later, we became champions together and that brought us even closer. »
Like the Brazilian pivot, Pau Gasol and Damian Lillard insisted on emphasizing the competitive spirit of Spurs’ number 9. “He was always a fierce competitor,” insists Pau Gasol, drafted in 2001 in the same promotion as that of the French, and who had the opportunity to challenge him in the youth team, in the national team, and in the NBA, before joining him in San Antonio.
“In front of him, it was my introduction to basketball which wins titles”
Damian Lillard, remembers his duel against Tony Parker in the second round of the 2014 playoffs. After being sparkling in the first round against the Rockets, even eliminating the Texans on an exceptional 3-point shot at the Game 6 buzzer, Damian Lillard fell back to earth against the Spurs machine and his direct opponent.
“Facing him was my introduction to title-winning basketball,” remembers the point guard of the Blazers. And the statistics back up his words. After shooting 25 points per game at 47% success against Houston, he suffered against Tony Parker. In the rout of his team, he scored an average of 6 points less, 41% on shots including 17% from afar, while losing twice as many balls as against the Rockets, from Basketball Reference.
From his first match against Tony Parker until his last, Josh Richardson also has indelible memories of the Frenchman. “I remember my rookie season: he, Manu and Tim were all still there and I was really impressed to play against these stars who had won so many titles. Tony Parker was one of the fastest guys in the league.” he explains to us, before discussing the last season of TP in Charlotte. “With Charlotte, he had a 26-point game against us. I shook my head and wondered what we could do to slow him down. »
Throughout his career, Tony Parker has prioritized winning over his personal stats, quickly realizing that collective success could take him much further than individual accolades.
“He was ready to do everything to be able to win games,” adds Tiago Splitter. “Some nights, he didn’t score but he led the team with a master hand by making decisive passes, defending hard. His ego was not commensurate with the great player he was. »
“When we talk to you about basketball, of course you will think of Michael Jordan, Kobe, LeBron and other players, but being French you immediately think of Tony Parker”
For 18 seasons, Tony Parker has forged his place in the League’s pantheon, and here he is in the Pantheon period. Tonight, he will become the first French player to enter the Hall of Fame. A few years ago, he was the first to have his jersey retired by an NBA franchise. And his exploits across the Atlantic have allowed basketball to gain notoriety in France. Whether in the media, in theaters or in the minds of budding basketball players, Spurs’ number 9 was everywhere.
The regularity of the French presence in the NBA is perhaps the most striking example. Among the players of this new generation, Elie Okobo, who was 4 years old when Tony Parker started his NBA career, explained to us that he took the French leader as an example from a very young age.
“When we talk to you about basketball, of course you will think of Michael Jordan, Kobe, LeBron and other players, but being French you immediately think of Tony Parker,” he throws. “He marked the history of French basketball but of American basketball too. To be MVP of the Finals, NBA champion, it’s something huge. He had a terrific career. He inspired a lot of young French people to play basketball and a lot of young people tried to play like him, and I’m one of them. He has always been an example for me. »
In 2018, Elie Okobo had realized two childhood dreams. Join the NBA and play against his idol. A very special moment for the young French leader. “I was able to play against him last year and it was something strong because I watched him from a very young age, from France, and the fact of playing against him, of talking with him this summer, it ‘crazy. »
“It’s cool that he gives back to French basketball”
Having had a similar role in Spain, Pau Gasol is well placed to describe and understand the impact of Tony Parker. “He’s a guy who changed the history of his sport,” he observes. “He had an immense influence in his country, in France, but also from an international point of view. »
Now retired, Tony Parker has done everything possible to continue to have a considerable influence on basketball, whether through his partnership with North Rock Partners, to help players manage their money well, or obviously with the return to the first map of Asvel.
” His whole story, it’s a great story,” says Kenny Atkinson, Nets coach who played in Pro A when Tony Parker was a resident of Paris Basket Racing. ” I know his whole journey, I’m a big fan. And now he owns Asvel. It’s cool that he gives back to French basketball. »
In a way, the circle is complete. Tony Parker, however, is not ready to stop since he has already announced that he wanted to try to afford an NBA franchise.
“His story and his legacy are enormous,” ends Brett Brown. “All of his work, whether in his country in France, internationally with the Games and other competitions, and with the San Antonio Spurs, all of that can never be taken away from him. It’s in the record books. »
Thanks Tony.
Interview in Portland by Emmanuel Laurin, and in San Francisco by Melvin Karsenti.
