Tony Parker Is Living A Dream

After five years wearing Silver and Black, Tony Parker is still living a dream. For the NBA superstar, with two championships and now two trips to the All-Star Game in 2006 and 2007 under his belt, the thrill of victory is far from becoming old hat for him. At the age of 24, Parker looks back and can hardly believe he’s been with the Spurs for that long. “Everything has gone so fast for me. I never thought things would go so fast. Sometimes I wake up and realize it’s true, it’s not a dream,” Parker said. “I’ve been very blessed to win all those games and have great rounds in the playoffs.”

No. 9 gives credit where credit is due. Parker, among the NBA’s quickest players, is quick to acknowledge Spurs’ Head Coach Gregg Popovich for helping him live his dream. “Pop gave me a chance early in my rookie year, and from there, it was just unbelievable,” the point guard said. “I was 19-years-old, and he had confidence in me. That’s all you can ask for as a player is to have the confidence of the coach.” Parker also gives credit to his teammates. Especially Tim Duncan. “He’s a great leader in his own way. He’s a great teammate to play with. He’s very unselfish and doesn’t mind sharing,” Parker said. “I’ve been very lucky to play with him. He makes it very easy on me every night.”

Tony Parker’s love of the game goes back to when he was a child growing up in France. From a young age Parker watched the NBA very closely. “I was a big student of the game. We just watched basketball all the time. I remember watching Chicago Bulls games and Michael Jordan at three o’clock in the morning in France.” Calling Jordan one of the biggest influences on his career, Parker said the NBA’s presence in Europe has only grown since those days. “Well, before it was just Michael Jordan. Everybody knew Michael, but that was about it,” Parker said. “Now, European fans know the entire NBA. They know all the players. Fans are really interested in the teams and the players.” Although Parker won’t take any credit for that, his high profile career in the NBA is no doubt partly responsible for the surge in popularity in Europe.

Other than Michael Jordan, another big influence on Parker is his father, Tony Parker, Sr., who is himself a former professional basketball player. Parker said he learned so much from his father, and credits his dad for his confidence on the court. Tony Parker Sr. played at Loyola University in Chicago, and then went on to the professional level in Europe.

Parker admits he spent a lot of time playing basketball as a child. “I would play games until two and three in the morning with my brothers and my dad.” Parker and his two younger brothers, T.J. and Pierre, lived with their father after the divorce from their mother, former Dutch model Pamela Firestone. Now, Tony’s brothers are following in his footsteps. T.J. played three seasons at Northwestern University in Chicago, and is now making a career in basketball, playing professionally in France. After playing one season of college basketball at Loyola, Pierre is now pursuing a career in modeling and acting. Parker’s dad now splits his time between Chicago and San Antonio and attends all the Spurs games that he can.

On the practice court, speed and agility are top priorities for Parker. But getting along with his fellow Spurs is just as important. He also realizes that as time goes by, his role with the team continues to change. “I have more responsibility each year, and I try to improve as a player and try to help the team as best as I can,” Parker said. That was evident during a recent practice. Parker not only made shot after shot with precision from the free throw line, he also worked closely with team mates throughout the practice. He knows that he made a real impact when he was first drafted by the Spurs in 2001. But now, five years in, teammates look to him for more. “I’ve tried to grow as a leader. I try to be more involved.”

Joining a team that was already an NBA Champion may have been just the ticket to help Parker achieve some of his dreams. He knew going into the league that he wanted to win a championship. “That’s what you do. You try to work hard and you try to win championships,” he said. “It was just an unbelievable feeling. To work hard all season long for that ultimate goal.” Winning a championship alongside some real veterans of the game meant everything to Parker. “Having guys on my team like Kevin Willis, Danny Ferry and Steve Kerr was great. To win the championship with them when they had played for so many years, it was just a great experience. It is my best memory in the NBA.”

And watching Tony Parker on the court has given San Antonio fans some great memories. With a down to earth, laid-back style, very different from his speed on the court, Parker said, “My five years on the team have been great, I can’t complain. Two championships, the All-Star Game, playing with great teammates and great fans. I’ve been very happy here.”

Fact is, after what he’s accomplished in the first five years, Spurs fans are glad he’s here, too - and can’t wait to see what he’ll do in the next five.