Tony Parker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tony Parker

Parker with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007
LDLC ASVEL
Owner
Personal information
Born	(1982-05-17) 17 May 1982 (age 43) Bruges, Belgium
Nationality	French, American
High school	INSEP (Paris, France)
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2001 / Round: 1 / Pick: 28th overall
Selected by the San Antonio Spurs
Pro career	1999–2019
League	LNB Élite EuroLeague
Career history
1999–2001	Paris Basket Racing
2001–2018	San Antonio Spurs
2011	LDLC ASVEL
2018–2019	Charlotte Hornets
Career highlights and awards
4× NBA champion (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) NBA Finals MVP (2007) 6× NBA All-Star (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012–2014) 3× All-NBA Second Team (2012–2014) All-NBA Third Team (2009) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2002) No. 9 retired by San Antonio Spurs FIBA EuroBasket MVP (2013) 2× FIBA EuroBasket Top Scorer (2011, 2013) 2× FIBA Europe Player of the Year (2013, 2014) 2× Euroscar Award (2007, 2013) 2× L'Équipe Champion of Champions (2003, 2013) LNB All-Star (2001) LNB Pro A Most Improved Player (2001) Pro A Best Young Player (2001) No. 9 retired by France As president of LDLC ASVEL: 4× LNB Pro A champion (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022) 2× French Cup winner (2019, 2021) French Super Cup winner (2016)
Career LNB Élite EuroLeague statistics
Points	19,473 (15.5 ppg)
Rebounds	3,396 (2.7 rpg)
Assists	7,036 (5.6 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  France EuroBasket Gold 2013 Slovenia Silver 2011 Lithuania Bronze 2005 Serbia Bronze 2015 France FIBA Europe U18 Championship Gold 2000 Croatia U-18 Team

Tony Parker (born May 17, 1982) is a French-American former professional basketball player. He is also the main owner of LDLC ASVEL, a basketball team in France. Tony's father was also a basketball player. Tony started his career in France before joining the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The Spurs chose him as the 28th player in the 2001 NBA draft. He quickly became their starting point guard. Parker won four NBA championships with the Spurs in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. He also played for LDLC ASVEL in France during the 2011 NBA lockout. He finished his playing career after one season with the Charlotte Hornets.

Parker was chosen for six NBA All-Star games. He was named the MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals. He is seen as one of the best European players ever. On August 13, 2023, Parker was put into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

While playing for the French national team, Parker was named the MVP of EuroBasket 2013. This was after his team won against Lithuania in the final. He was the top scorer in that tournament, averaging 19 points per game. In 2015, he became the all-time leading scorer in the EuroBasket competition. This record was later broken by Pau Gasol.

Early Life and Basketball Beginnings

Tony Parker was born in Bruges, Belgium, but grew up in France. His father, Tony Parker Sr., was an American basketball player. He played professionally in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Tony's mother, Pamela Firestone, was a Dutch model.

Tony enjoyed spending time with his brothers. They often went to their father's basketball games together. At first, Tony liked soccer more. But after seeing Michael Jordan become a huge basketball star, he changed his mind. Tony's two younger brothers, T. J. and Pierre, also became basketball players.

As Tony got better, he played as a point guard. He knew his speed and quickness made this position perfect for him. At age 15, he became a French citizen but kept his American nationality. He was later invited to train at INSEP in Paris, a famous sports academy.

Professional Basketball Career

Starting in France: Paris Basket Racing (1999–2001)

After playing in French amateur leagues, Parker became a professional. He signed with Paris Basket Racing in 1999 when he was 17. In the summer of 2000, Parker was invited to the Nike Hoop Summit in Indianapolis. In a game between American and European All-Stars, Parker scored 20 points. He also had seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals.

His great performance made many colleges want him. But Parker decided to stay in France. He played another year with Paris Basket Racing. Then, he entered the 2001 NBA draft.

NBA Journey with the San Antonio Spurs (2001–2018)

Joining the Spurs and First Championship (2001–2003)

Before the 2001 NBA draft, Parker was invited to the San Antonio Spurs' summer camp. Coach Gregg Popovich had him play against a Spurs scout. Parker struggled at first. But after seeing a video of Parker's best plays, Popovich gave him another chance. Parker did much better this time.

The Spurs decided Parker was worth picking. His name was not mentioned much before the draft. The Spurs drafted him as the 28th player overall.

Parker started as a backup player. But he quickly became a starter in his first season. He played in 77 games, averaging 9.2 points and 4.3 assists. In October 2001, he became the third French player to play in an NBA game. By the end of the season, he led the Spurs in assists and steals. He was named to the All-Rookie First Team for 2001–02. He was the first foreign-born guard to get this honor.

In the 2002–03 season, Parker played in all 82 games as the starting point guard. He improved his stats, averaging 15.5 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.6 rebounds. He led the team in assists 49 times. In 2003, the Spurs, led by Tim Duncan, won the 2003 NBA Finals. They beat the New Jersey Nets 4–2. Parker earned his first NBA championship ring.

Winning More Titles (2003–2007)

Even after winning a championship, some people wondered about Parker's future. The Spurs tried to get another point guard, but Parker told Coach Popovich he wanted to be the starter. Parker played well in the 2003–04 season. However, the Spurs lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs. They could not win back-to-back titles.

In the 2004–05 season, Parker's stats got even better. He averaged 16.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds. The Spurs played strongly in the playoffs. Parker was key in their wins. The Spurs won their third NBA championship. They beat the Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the 2005 NBA Finals.

Parker in a 2007–08 game against Washington Wizards' Gilbert Arenas

Parker was chosen for his first NBA All-Star game in the 2005–06 season. He averaged 18.9 points. His good play helped the Spurs win 63 games. But they lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Dallas Mavericks.

In the 2006–07 season, Parker was chosen for the All-Star game again. The Spurs made it to the 2007 NBA Playoffs. They finished second in their division. They beat the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz. Then, Parker and the Spurs faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2007 NBA Finals. They won the series 4–0. Parker played much better than the Cavaliers' guards. He scored 24.5 points per game in the series. He was named the 2007 NBA Finals MVP. He was the first European-born player to win this award.

Later Years with the Spurs (2007–2018)

In the 2007–08 season, Parker had similar stats. The Spurs finished third in the Western Conference. They beat the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs. Parker played very well, averaging almost 30 points and 7 assists. They then beat the New Orleans Hornets in seven games. But they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Conference Finals.

The Spurs started the 2008–09 season slowly. But in their fourth game, Parker scored a career-high 55 points. This led the Spurs to their first win of the season. Parker averaged a career-high in points per game. He was named an All-Star reserve in 2009. The Spurs lost in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Parker's playoff averages were his best yet.

Parker hurt his hand in the 2009–10 season and missed 26 games. The Spurs made the playoffs but lost to Phoenix in the second round. In the 2010–11 season, the Spurs had a great start. They finished as the top team in the West. However, they were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Parker attempts a free throw in a game against the Denver Nuggets in December 2010

During the 2011 NBA lockout, Parker signed with LDLC ASVEL in France. He owns a part of this team. He played for a very low salary, almost for free. He even paid for his own insurance.

In the 2011–12 NBA season, Parker helped the Spurs have the best record in the West again. On February 4, 2012, Parker became the Spurs' all-time assist leader. He passed Avery Johnson. The Spurs had their 13th straight season with 50 wins. Parker was chosen for his fourth All-Star game. In the 2012 NBA Playoffs, the Spurs swept the first two rounds. But they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

In the 2012–13 season, Parker hit a game-winning shot against the Thunder. On December 10, 2012, Parker got his first career triple-double. This was after 825 regular-season games. He had 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. In Game 1 of the 2013 NBA Finals, Parker made a key shot to help the Spurs win. However, the Spurs eventually lost the series in seven games to the Miami Heat.

Fourth Championship and Final Spurs Seasons (2013–2018)

In May 2014, Parker, Manu Ginóbili, and Tim Duncan tied a record. They had the most wins in playoff history as a trio. The Spurs then beat the Thunder to reach the NBA Finals again. San Antonio faced the Miami Heat once more. They won the 2014 NBA Finals in five games. This win gave Parker his fourth championship.

On August 1, 2014, Parker signed a new contract with the Spurs. The Spurs lost in the first round of the 2015 playoffs. Parker struggled due to an injury. In the 2015–16 season, Parker helped the Spurs win a team-best 67 games. They swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2016 playoffs. But they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.

In the 2016–17 season, Parker's longtime teammate Tim Duncan retired. Parker played 63 games. In the 2017 playoffs, the Spurs again faced the Memphis Grizzlies. San Antonio won the series. Parker played well, averaging 16.3 points. But in the second round, Parker got a serious injury to his left quadriceps tendon. This ended his season. This was the first time the Spurs played a playoff game without Parker since 2001.

Parker returned to play on November 27, 2017. In his last season with the Spurs, Parker played 55 games. He averaged a career-low 7.7 points. The Spurs made the playoffs but lost to the Golden State Warriors. On November 11, 2019, the Spurs retired Parker's No. 9 jersey.

Charlotte Hornets (2018–2019)

On July 23, 2018, Parker signed a two-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets. He played his first game for the Hornets on October 17, 2018. He scored 8 points and had 7 assists.

On June 10, 2019, Parker announced he was retiring from the NBA. He finished his career ranked fifth in playoff assists and ninth in playoff scoring.

National Team Career

Parker playing for France in 2011

Parker played for France's junior national teams. He played in the 1997 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. He also played in the 1998 and 2000 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championships. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2000 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. France won the gold medal that year.

With the French senior national team, Parker played in many FIBA EuroBasket tournaments. France won the bronze medal in the 2005 FIBA EuroBasket. Parker was the captain of the French national team since 2003. He was supposed to lead France in the 2006 FIBA World Championship. But he broke a finger and could not play.

During the EuroBasket 2007, Parker averaged 20.1 points per game. But France lost in the quarter-finals. Parker skipped the 2010 FIBA World Championship to recover from injuries. He returned to the team in 2011. France reached the finals of the 2011 EuroBasket but lost to Spain. Parker also played for the team in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In 2013, Parker and the French national team won the 2013 FIBA EuroBasket tournament.

Parker's national team No.9 jersey being retired

While playing for France in EuroBasket 2015, Parker scored his 1,032nd career point. This made him the all-time leading scorer in EuroBasket history. This record was later broken by Pau Gasol.

In July 2016, Parker said he would retire from international basketball after the 2016 Summer Olympics. He confirmed this after France lost in the quarter-finals in Rio.

On July 12, 2024, the French Federation of Basketball officially retired Parker's No. 9 national team jersey. This was the first time a number was retired for a player in any French sport.

Player Profile

Parker is 6 feet 2 inches tall (1.88 m) and weighs 185 pounds (84 kg). He played as a point guard. He was known for being a strong offensive player. In a 2007 poll, his peers voted him one of the quickest players in the NBA. He often drove to the basket for a layup or teardrop shot. Even though he was smaller than many players, he scored a lot of points close to the basket.

Early in his NBA career, Parker was not a consistent shooter. In 2005, Coach Popovich worked with him to improve his shooting. Spurs shooting coach Chip Engelland helped him change his shooting motion. As a result, Parker's accuracy improved. He also made 78% of his free throws that season.

Honors and Achievements

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

Off the Court Activities

Owning a Basketball Team

In 2009, Parker bought a part of the French basketball club LDLC ASVEL. This team is in Lyon, France. He was given the title of Vice President of Basketball Operations. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Parker played for ASVEL. In 2014, Parker became the main owner of the club. He is now the president of the team.

In September 2015, Parker started his own basketball academy in Lyon. In 2016, he and his business partners shared plans for a new arena. This arena will be the new home for LDLC ASVEL.

Women's Basketball Team

In March 2017, Parker became the main owner of Lyon Basket Féminine. This is a women's basketball team in France. It is now called LDLC ASVEL Féminin. He also became the chairman of the club.

Family Life

Parker with Eva Longoria at the 2008 Emmy Awards

Parker met actress Eva Longoria in November 2004. They started dating in August 2005. On November 30, 2006, they got engaged. Longoria often watched Spurs games from the courtside. They got married in Paris on July 6, 2007. A Catholic wedding ceremony followed on July 7, 2007. Fellow NBA player Boris Diaw was Parker's best man.

Parker and Longoria at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival

Parker and Longoria separated in 2010. Their divorce was finalized in Texas on January 28, 2011.

Parker started dating French journalist Axelle Francine in 2011. They got engaged in June 2013. Parker and Axelle Francine married on August 2, 2014. They have two sons, born in April 2014 and July 2016. The couple announced their separation in August 2020.

Helping Others

During his playing career, Parker gave away 20 tickets to each home game. These tickets went to young people who might not otherwise get to see a game. Parker is also the first ambassador for Make-A-Wish France. This group helps make wishes come true for children with serious health conditions.

Parker has also helped other charities. He supported former NBA player Steve Nash's foundation. He also helped his ex-wife Eva Longoria's charity, Eva's Heroes.

Music Interests

Parker loves hip-hop and rap music. He released a French hip-hop album called TP. The album included songs with famous artists like Booba and Jamie Foxx.

• His song "Balance-toi", featuring Eva Longoria, reached number one in France.
• Another song, "Premier Love", reached number 11 in France.

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

Other Interests

Parker was involved in Paris's bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics. He was disappointed when London won the bid. Parker is good friends with French footballer Thierry Henry. They were often seen together at Parker's NBA games.

In 2012, Parker and his brothers opened a nightclub in San Antonio. However, it closed within a year. In 2019, Parker bought a small part of the National Women's Soccer League team, now called OL Reign. Parker also took part in the iconic Olympic torch pass for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Nightclub Incident

Tony Parker, for his number retirement in July 2024

On June 14, 2012, Parker was injured at a nightclub in New York City. A piece of glass hit his eye, needing surgery. He was worried he might miss the 2012 Summer Olympics. However, on July 6, 2012, he was cleared to play.

Movies and Television

In 2008, Tony Parker helped direct a film called 9 – Un chiffre, un homme. This documentary was about his life. Famous basketball players like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan were in it. Parker also appeared in the 2008 French movie Asterix at the Olympic Games. He played a character named Tonus Parker. He has also been in various TV shows and short films.

In 2021, a Netflix documentary about Parker was released. It was called Tony Parker: The Final Shot.

Images for kids

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  Tony Parker, for his number retirement in July 2024

See also

In Spanish: Tony Parker para niños

• List of NBA career assists leaders
• List of NBA career turnovers leaders
• List of NBA career games played leaders
• List of NBA career playoff scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff assists leaders
• List of NBA career playoff turnovers leaders
• List of French NBA players
• List of sportspeople with dual nationality
• List of European basketball players in the United States