2023-08-11 08:53:26
Playmaker Tony Parker will become the first Frenchman to enter the American basketball pantheon, the Hall of Fame, on Saturday. While the 2023 promotion also includes the German Dirk Nowitzki and the Spaniard Pau Gasol, the former star of the San Antonio Spurs proudly measures the progress made.
Published on: 08/11/2023 – 08:53
6 mn
“When I’m in the museum in Springfield doing my speech, then I’m really going to realize.” Tony Parker still finds it hard to believe. Saturday August 12, he will be part of the 2023 vintage of the Hall of Fame, thus becoming the first Frenchman to enter it. A few days before the ceremony, the basketball legend gave an interview on Zoom to some media, including France 24.
Tony Parker notably spoke about the honor done to him and his feelings about entering the Hall of Fame with his friends and rivals Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki. He also returned to the path traveled since his first pro license at PSG, his draft in the prestigious NBA, his four titles with the Spurs and his special relationship with coach Gregg Popovich.
France 24: When you see yourself as a young basketball player at Insep, or during your first professional season at PSG basketball with long minutes on the bench behind Laurent Sciarra while dreaming of the NBA, is it in your wildest dreams , you imagined having this career and ending up in the Hall of Fame ?
Honestly, no. And yet, I am always the first to tell my academics to always dream big. When you tell your dream to someone and they don’t laugh at you, it’s because you’re not dreaming big enough!
Frankly, even in my wildest dreams, I never imagined getting into the Hall of Fame. At the time, basketball was different. It was impossible. No European leader had succeeded in the NBA. There were simply no Europeans.
Today, being drafted has almost become normal. At the time, it was already quite an event. Me, I was just dreaming of the NBA and of being the first European leader to succeed. But to say that I would win four titles or that I would become the first European to be MVP [joueur de l’année, NDLR] finals, and now this Hall of Fame entry, it’s just amazing. I myself find it difficult to realize.
What does it mean to be the first Frenchman to enter the Hall of Fame, and in particular alongside Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki, also the first representatives of their country? ?
It’s something extraordinary to be the first Frenchman. I have always taken the role of ambassador of French basketball, of sport in general, very seriously… This has always been my motivation, to show Americans that we know how to play basketball in France. To be the first French NBA champion and the first to enter the Hall of Fame is the continuation.
Enter alongside Pau [Gasol] and Dirk [Nowitzki], it is truly an honor. I have sincere relationships with both. I was present when Dirk’s jersey was retired from his franchise. I played with Pau at Spurs, and I’ve known him since I was fourteen, with all the rivalry that France had with Spain.
At the time, Americans thought it was impossible for a European to become a “franchise player” [un joueur emblématique d’une équipe, NDLR]. We were the first to take charge of our franchises and lead them to titles. And now, when I see that they don’t hesitate to consider players like Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokounmpo as “franchise players”, I realize how far we have come.
You also enter the Hall of Fame at the same time as Gregg Popovich, who has coached you for most of your career. What does it do ? What were your relationships like in the beginning, and now ?
It’s a relationship that will always be very special to me. He’s like a second father to me. I came to San Antonio so young, I was 19 and he took me under his wing. He took a risk too: he gave the ball to a European leader. Its star, Tim Duncan, didn’t tell me about the first season. He took a risk and that’s why we’ll be together forever.
Tim Duncan summed it up well: I’m the toughest player Gregg Popovich has ever been with in Spurs history. But we achieved so many things together… It’s almost funny that we enter the Hall of Fame together because they could have chosen any year for Popovich… I don’t even know if it’s ever happened that a player enters at the same time as his coach.
Read alsoVictor Wembanyama at the San Antonio Spurs: the ideal destination for the nugget of French basketball
Your speech will be a defining moment. How do you go about writing ?
I write on my own and I re-watch the speeches I had already made at the time. I look at the players who inspired me: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson. I re-watched those of [Tim] Duncan, [Manu] Ginobili… I am inspired a little by everyone.
I’ve written quite a few speeches in my life. I did Duncan’s jersey retirement, Ginobili’s. But there, it has nothing to do. You retrace your whole life, what! It’s really not an easy exercise. I’m going to be very nervous, I think…
You won your first NBA title in 2003 and your first title with the Blues in 2013. Ten years later, in 2023, you entered the Hall of Fame. What can we imagine for Tony Parker in 2033 ?
I don’t know. That’s a very good question. Win the Euroleague with ASVEL [le club français dont il est président, NDLR] ?
I was born under a lucky star and I am very, very grateful for everything that has happened in my life.
We watched the 2003 game yesterday with my family and friends. It was so funny to see me there again, at 21, where I was oblivious to what I was doing. I had put 26 points on Jason Kidd. I was light years away from realizing what I was doing. Besides, I did come back to Earth the next match, where I only made one out of ten shots. The first title, you do not realize it. It’s going so fast. NBA champion at 21, it was incredible, what.
In 2013, winning the first title with the French team was also something really special, it was cool to see everyone again. And 2023 at the Hall of Fame, we will still live incredible moments that will be engraved forever in my heart. And I hope that in 2033, I will be able to celebrate something that will be of this level.
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