Tony Parker

Early life

Parker was born on May 17, 1982, in Bruges, Belgium, and raised in France. His father, Tony Parker Sr., an African American, played basketball at Loyola University Chicago as well as professionally in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. His mother, Pamela Firestone, is a model of Dutch, German, English and Irish origin. His maternal grandmother, Jetty Baars-Wienese, is a Dutch national tennis champion (1956), whose brother and Tony's great-uncle Jan Wienese is an Olympic gold medalist in rowing. Parker enjoyed close relationships with his brothers, and they would often attend their father's basketball games together. At first, Parker was more interested in soccer, but after watching the evolution of Michael Jordan into a global basketball superstar during summer trips to his father's native city of Chicago, he changed his mind. Parker's two younger brothers were also heavily involved in basketball; T.J. and Pierre would go on to play basketball at college and professional levels. As Parker built his skill, he played the point guard position, recognizing that his speed and agility made this position ideal for him. At age 15, he became a naturalized French citizen while retaining his American nationality. He was eventually asked to attend the INSEP National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance (Institut national du sport, de l'expertise et de la performance) in Paris.

Professional basketball career

Paris Basket Racing (1999–2001)

After playing in the French amateur leagues for two seasons, Parker turned professional and signed with Paris Basket Racing in 1999 at age 17. In the summer of 2000, Parker was invited to the Nike Hoop Summit in Indianapolis. In a contest between the American and European All-Stars, Parker recorded 20 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals. His performance prompted a recruiting war among several colleges, including UCLA and Georgia Tech. Parker decided to forgo the NCAA and to remain in France; he spent the next year with Paris Basket Racing in the French League before entering the 2001 NBA draft.

San Antonio Spurs (2001–2011)

Before the 2001 NBA draft, Parker was invited to the San Antonio Spurs' summer camp. Coach Gregg Popovich had him play against Spurs scout and ex-NBA player Lance Blanks. Parker was overwhelmed by Blanks's tough and physical defense, and Popovich was ready to send him away after just 10 minutes. But after seeing a "best of" mix tape of Parker's best plays, Popovich decided to invite Parker a second time. This time, Parker made a better impression against Blanks; the Frenchman later described Blanks as a "one-man wrecking crew". But while Popovich decided that Parker was worth the gamble, the Spurs still had to hope that other teams would not pick Parker during the draft. Parker's name was barely mentioned in the pre-draft predictions, and the point guard was drafted 28th overall by the Spurs on draft day.

After initially playing backup to Antonio Daniels, Parker became a starter and made 77 regular-season appearances in his rookie season, averaging 9.2 points, 4.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 29.4 minutes per game. When he played against the Los Angeles Clippers on 30 October 2001, he became the third French player to play in an NBA game, after Tariq Abdul-Wahad and Jérôme Moïso. By the end of the season, the rookie led San Antonio in assists and steals, and was named to the All-Rookie First Team for 2001–02, becoming the first foreign-born guard to earn the honor.

In 2002–03, Parker played in all 82 regular-season games as San Antonio's starting point guard on a team that was largely revamped from previous years. He improved his regular season statistics, averaging 15.5 points per game (ppg), 5.3 assists per game (apg) and 2.6 rebounds per game (rpg). Parker's role as the team's playmaker was reflected in his leading the team in assists on 49 occasions. During the 2003 NBA All-Star Weekend, Parker represented the Sophomores in the Rookie Challenge, and also participated in the inaugural Skills Challenge. In the post season, the Spurs, led by Tim Duncan, defeated the New Jersey Nets 4–2 in the finals, and Parker earned his first NBA championship ring. Despite the victory, Parker struggled with inconsistent play throughout the playoffs, and was often benched in favor of more experienced guards Steve Kerr and Speedy Claxton late in the games.

Despite winning a championship with the Spurs, doubts lingered over Parker's future. The Spurs had attempted and failed to acquire New Jersey Nets' Jason Kidd, but Parker told coach Popovich that he wanted to be San Antonio's starting point guard. Parker played well during the regular season, recording 14.7 ppg, 5.5 apg and 3.2 rpg. However, the Spurs were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semi-finals in the 2004 NBA Playoffs, and were denied back-to-back titles.

ASVEL (2011)

During the 2011 NBA lockout, Parker signed with ASVEL, the French basketball team in which he owns a stake. Parker's salary was about $2,000 a month. He was quoted as saying, "I'll be playing nearly for free." He also paid his own insurance, which reportedly cost $250,000 for three months.

Return to San Antonio (2011–2018)

During the 2011–12 NBA season, Parker helped the Spurs reach the best record in the West for the second straight season; the team tied the Chicago Bulls for the best overall record in the league. It was the Spurs 13th straight 50 win season (a new NBA record) despite the lockout-shortened season. On 4 February 2012, Parker became the all-time assist leader of the franchise with 4,477, surpassing Avery Johnson, adding 42 points in a victory against Oklahoma City Thunder. Parker received his fourth All-Star nod and finished fifth in MVP award voting, receiving four first-place votes.

In the 2012 NBA Playoffs, the Spurs swept their first two opponents, the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers, to reach the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After taking a 2-0 series lead, the Spurs lost four consecutive games, thus losing the series in 6 games. Over the three playoff series, Parker averaged 20.1 points and 6.8 assists per game.

In their second game of the 2012–13 season, the Spurs faced the Thunder in a rematch of the previous Western Conference Finals; Parker hit a game-winning jumper as time expired to secure a 86-84 win for the Spurs. On 10 December 2012, Parker got his first career triple-double after 825 regular-season games against the Houston Rockets in overtime with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. He was the 4th player in NBA history to have gone 800 games or more into their career before their first triple-double, joining Karl Malone (860), Patrick Ewing (834), and Cedric Maxwell (824). At the end of January, Parker was named Western Conference NBA Player of the Month. During the month, he led the Spurs to a 12-3 record (the best record in the NBA), averaged 21.9 points and 7.9 assists per game, and shot 56.3% from the field. Parker was the first Spurs player to receive the honor since Tim Duncan in April 2002.

During the 2013 Western Conference Finals against the Grizzlies, Parker recorded a career-high 18 assists along with 15 points in the Spurs' game 2 victory. In game 4, Parker finished with a game-high 37 points as the Spurs swept the Grizzlies to advance to the NBA finals again the defending champion Miami Heat. In game 1 of the finals, Parker hit a clutch jump shot off the glass with 5.2 seconds remaining in the game, securing a 92–88 victory for San Antonio. The Spurs eventually lost the series in seven games.

Charlotte Hornets (2018–2019)

On 23 July 2018, Parker signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets. He made his debut as a Hornets player on 17 October 2018, recording 8 points on 4/8 shooting, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds while coming off of the bench in 19 minutes of action in a 113–112 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Hornets finished the season with a 39-43 record, missing the playoffs.

On 10 June 2019, Parker announced his retirement from the NBA. He ended his career ranked fifth in career playoff assists (1,143) and ninth in career playoff scoring (4,045).

National team career

Parker played for France's Junior National Teams at the 1997 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, both the 1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and the 2000 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, and the 2002 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. He was elected the Most Valuable Player of the 2000 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, when France captured the gold medal, as he averaged 14.4 points and 2.5 assists per game. Parker averaged 25.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 6.8 steals per game at the 2002 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. With the French senior national team, Parker has played in the 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 2013 and 2015 FIBA EuroBaskets.

France won the bronze medal in the 2005 FIBA EuroBasket, by defeating the Spanish national team 98–68 in the bronze medal game. As the captain of the French national team since 2003, Parker was slated to lead France at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, but he was unable to play after breaking a finger when he caught his hand in the jersey of a Brazilian national team player in France's final warm-up for the tournament. During the EuroBasket 2007, Parker averaged 20.1 points per game and 2.8 assists per game in nine tournament games, but France was defeated in the quarter-finals by the Russian national team. He passed the 2010 FIBA World Championship to recover fully from some injuries he had during the 2009–10 NBA season. Parker returned to the team in 2011, and France reached the finals of the 2011 EuroBasket, losing to Spain. Parker also joined the team for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In 2013, Parker and the French national team won the 2013 FIBA EuroBasket tournament. While Parker had a "quiet game" in the final with only 12 points, he was named the MVP for the tournament.

While playing for France in EuroBasket 2015, in a group game against Poland, Parker scored his 1,032nd career point in the tournament, and in doing so, he overtook Nikos Galis as the all-time leading scorer in the history of the EuroBasket competition. That record was later broken by Pau Gasol.

During the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila, Philippines, in July 2016, Parker announced his intention to retire from international competition, but not the NBA, after the 2016 Summer Olympics. He reiterated that intent after France lost in the quarter-finals in Rio de Janeiro.

On 12 July 2024, the French Federation of Basketball officially retired Parker's national team jersey number 9, ahead of a friendly game against Serbia at the LDLC Arena in Lyon. Retiring a number for a player is not a French tradition, thus, his number retirement was the first of such kind in any French sport.

Player profile

Standing at 6 feet 2 inches tall (1.88 m) and weighing 185 pounds (84 kg), Parker played at the point guard position and established himself as a potent offensive player. He was voted by his peers in a 2007 poll as one of the quickest players in the NBA. Parker often slashed to the basket for layups, and the teardrop was considered his "signature shot". Despite his relatively small size for a basketball player, he led the league in "points in the paint" for the 2005–06 season.

In the initial part of his NBA career, Parker was considered an erratic shooter off the ball. During the 2005 offseason, Coach Popovich decided to work on that aspect of his play. Spurs shooting coach Chip Engelland forbade Parker to shoot any three-point shots and corrected his shooting motion and his thumb position. As a result, by the 2006–07 season, Parker's accuracy rose by 4% (field goals and three-point shots). He was also able to connect on 78% of his free throws that season.

Parker developed tendinitis in his knees early in his career.

Career statistics

Other ventures

In 2012, Parker and his brothers, TJ and Pierre, opened a nightclub called Nueve Lounge in San Antonio. The venue officially closed on 27 July 2013. In September 2015, Parker announced the launch of his own basketball academy in the city of Lyon.

In June 2019, Parker joined NorthRock Partners, a financial planning firm, to lead their sports, artists and entertainment division. Parker stated he was inspired by his own experience as a young athlete navigating financial matters.

In December 2019, Parker bought a 3% stake in the Tacoma, Washington-based National Women's Soccer League team then known as Reign FC and later known as OL Reign. He acquired this interest as part of a larger transaction in which OL Groupe, the parent company of prominent French football club Olympique Lyonnais, bought an 89.5% stake in the NWSL team.

Olympic bids

Parker was involved in the Paris bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, travelling with the French delegation to the International Olympic Committee voting meeting in Singapore. After Paris lost the vote—54 to 50 in favor of London's bid—Parker critiqued the process, saying "I don't know what else we could have done. If we don't have it now, I guess we will never get it. The IOC seems to be very pro-Anglo-Saxon. I feel extremely gutted."

Parker participated in Paris' successful bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, and was the first ambassador announced for the games after their bid won. Parker also took part in the Olympic torch relay in 2024, carrying the flame for a turn in Marseille.

LDLC ASVEL

In 2009, Parker bought a 20 percent stake in the French basketball club LDLC ASVEL, located in Lyon, and held the ceremonial title of vice president of basketball operations. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Parker signed to play for ASVEL for the French League's minimum wage until the lockout ended. In 2014, Parker became the majority shareholder and president of the team.

On 12 July 2016, Parker and his business partners published plans for the construction of a new arena in Villeurbanne, which was slated to become LDLC ASVEL's new home court. In 2017, Nicholas Batum, another NBA player and longtime teammate of Parker on the French national team, joined ASVEL as Director of Basketball Operations.

LDLC ASVEL Féminin

In March 2017, it was announced that Parker had become the majority shareholder of Lyon Basket Féminine (a member of the French women's basketball league later known as LDLC ASVEL Féminin) and that he would also take over as chairman of the club at the conclusion of the fiscal year 2016–17.

Philanthropy

During his playing career, Parker donated a block of 20 tickets for each home game to underprivileged youth. In 2006, Parker became the first ambassador for Make-A-Wish France, the French division of a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. His work with Make-A-Wish includes hosting a yearly gala with other celebrities, such as Omar Sy, to raise money for the foundation.

Parker is also known for participating in former NBA point guard Steve Nash's foundation, as well as his ex-wife Eva Longoria's NGO Eva's Heroes.

Movies and television

In 2008, Parker and Jean-Marie Antonini directed a one-hour documentary, 9 – Un chiffre, un homme (English: 9 – a number, a man) distributed by StudioCanal. The film uses archival footage of Parker's childhood, covering his early life and the first 9 years of his basketball career. The film features basketball players Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Steve Nash, and Boris Diaw, as well as footballers Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane, and Eva Longoria. In 2021, Parker was the subject of another documentary, Tony Parker: The Final Shot, directed by Florent Bodin and released by Netflix.

Parker had a cameo appearance in the 2008 French film Asterix at the Olympic Games where his character invents the game of basketball. He has appeared as a guest on the TV series En aparté (2005) and season 4 of the Netflix series Call My Agent (2020). He has participated in the game show Fort Boyard. Parker played himself as a lead character in the animated series Baskup - Tony Parker.

Music

Parker released a French hip-hop album entitled Tony Parker (alternatively called TP) in 2007, produced by Polygrafic (Sound Scientists). The album featured collaborations with artists including Booba, Jamie Foxx, Rickwel, and Soprano. Singles from the album include:

"Balance-toi", which features Eva Longoria. It reached the number one position in the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP), the official French singles chart.

"Premier Love" featuring Rickwel singing English and Parker singing French. It peaked at #11 in SNEP.

"Bienvenue dans le Texas", featuring French rapper Booba and made available via iTunes. This initial release did not chart in France.

The album received negative reviews from English and French media, with Rolling Stone later including Parker in a list of the "10 Worst Rappers in NBA History", alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, and others. In 2013, Parker stated in an interview that he was retired from music.

Albums

Singles

*Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts where it peaked at number 4. Fifty chart positions were added to the Ultratip peak to arrive at an equivalent Ultratop position

Personal life

Parker met American actress Eva Longoria in November 2004. In August 2005, Longoria confirmed that she and Parker were dating. On 30 November 2006, the couple became engaged. Longoria, a Texas native from nearby Corpus Christi, was a courtside regular at Spurs home games. Parker was quoted during the 2007 NBA All-Star Game saying that, "Eva is doing everything, I'm just going to show up and say yes." They were married in a civil service on 6 July 2007, at a Paris city hall. That was followed by a full Catholic wedding ceremony at the Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois Church in Paris, France, on 7 July 2007. Boris Diaw, fellow French national team member and future NBA teammate, was Parker's best man for the wedding.

On 17 November 2010, Longoria filed for divorce in Los Angeles, citing "irreconcilable differences" after Parker reportedly engaged in an emotional affair with the wife of his Spurs teammate Brent Barry.

Longoria sought spousal support from Parker. The couple had a prenuptial agreement that was signed in June 2007, the month before their wedding, and amended two years later in June 2009. Unlike Longoria's divorce petition, Parker's did not mention a prenuptial agreement and claimed that the parties "will enter into an agreement for the division of their estate". The divorce was finalized in Texas on 28 January 2011, the same day Longoria's lawyer filed papers to dismiss her Los Angeles petition.

Parker began dating French journalist Axelle Francine in 2011. In June 2013, it was reported that the couple was engaged. Parker and Axelle Francine married on 2 August 2014. They have two sons born in April 2014 and July 2016. The couple announced their separation in August 2020.

From 2021 to 2024, Parker dated French professional tennis player Alizé Lim.

Nightclub injury

Parker was injured on 14 June 2012 at the W.I.P nightclub in the SoHo district of New York City when a brawl broke out between entertainers Chris Brown and Drake. Parker filed a $20 million suit against the night club. Parker risked missing the 2012 Summer Olympics after a piece of glass thrown in the fight deeply penetrated his eye, requiring surgical removal of the glass. However, on 6 July 2012, he was cleared to participate.