Tony Parker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tony Parker

Parker in 2024
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
As player 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

William Anthony Parker Jr. (born 17 May 1982) is a French-American former professional basketball player. He is also the main owner of LDLC ASVEL, a basketball team in France.

Tony Parker started his career in France before joining the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was picked 28th overall in the 2001 NBA draft. He quickly became the team's starting point guard. Parker won four NBA championships with the Spurs (in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014). He also played for Charlotte Hornets for one season before retiring.

Parker was chosen for six NBA All-Star games. He was named the MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals. His jersey number 9 was retired by the Spurs. Many consider him one of the greatest European basketball players ever. He was a key player in the Spurs' success for many years. On 13 August 2023, Parker was inducted 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. He was also the top scorer in that tournament. In 2015, he became the all-time leading scorer in the EuroBasket competition.

Tony Parker's Early Life

Tony Parker was born in Bruges, Belgium, and grew up in France. His father, Tony Parker Sr., was a professional basketball player. His mother, Pamela Firestone, was a model. Tony's grandmother was a Dutch national tennis champion. His great-uncle was an Olympic gold medalist in rowing.

Tony and his brothers loved going to their father's basketball games. 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 also played basketball.

Tony worked hard on his skills. He played as a point guard because of his speed. When he was 15, he became a French citizen. He also kept his American nationality. Later, he was invited to train at the INSEP sports institute in Paris.

Tony Parker's Professional Basketball Career

Playing for Paris Basket Racing (1999–2001)

After playing in amateur leagues, Parker became a professional player. He signed with Paris Basket Racing in 1999 when he was 17. In 2000, Parker played in the Nike Hoop Summit. He scored 20 points and had 7 assists in a game against American All-Stars. This made many colleges interested in him. But Parker decided to stay in France for another year. He played for Paris Basket Racing before joining the NBA draft in 2001.

Joining the San Antonio Spurs (2001–2011)

Winning His First NBA Championship (2002–2003)

Before the 2001 NBA draft, Tony Parker was invited to a camp with the San Antonio Spurs. The coach, Gregg Popovich, was not impressed 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 to take a chance on Parker. He was picked 28th overall in the draft. He became a starter quickly in his first season. He played in 77 games, averaging 9.2 points and 4.3 assists. He was the third French player to play in an NBA game. Parker led the Spurs in assists and steals that year. He was also named to the All-Rookie First Team.

In the 2002–03 season, Parker played in all 82 games. He improved his stats, averaging 15.5 points and 5.3 assists. He led the team in assists many times. During the 2003 NBA All-Star Weekend, Parker played in the Rookie Challenge. He also took part in the first-ever Skills Challenge. In the playoffs, the Spurs won their first NBA championship ring. They beat the New Jersey Nets 4–2 in the finals.

Earning His Second NBA Championship (2003–2005)

Even after winning a championship, some people wondered about Parker's future. But Parker told Coach Popovich he wanted to be the starting point guard. He played well in the 2003–04 season. However, the Spurs lost in the playoffs to the Los Angeles Lakers. This meant they could not win back-to-back titles.

Before the 2004–05 season, Parker signed a new contract with the Spurs. He continued to improve his stats, averaging 16.6 points and 6.1 assists. He was also good at shooting. The Spurs played strongly in the playoffs. Parker was a key player in their wins. The Spurs won their third NBA championship by beating the Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the 2005 NBA Finals.

Securing His Third NBA Championship (2005–2007)

Parker playing against the Washington Wizards in 2007–08

Parker was chosen for his first NBA All-Star game in the 2005–06 season. He averaged 18.9 points and shot very well. His great play helped the Spurs win 63 games. But they lost in the second round of the 2006 NBA Playoffs to the Dallas Mavericks.

In the 2006–07 season, Parker continued to play well. He was chosen for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. The Spurs made it to the 2007 NBA Playoffs. 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 exceptionally well in the finals. He scored 24.5 points per game and shot with high accuracy. Because of his amazing performance, he was named the 2007 NBA Finals MVP. He was the first European player to win this award.

Challenges and Injuries (2007–2011)

In the 2007–08 season, Parker had similar stats. The Spurs finished third in their conference. They beat the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs. Parker played great, 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 next round. The Spurs could not win back-to-back championships again.

The Spurs had a tough start in the 2008–09 season. But Parker scored a career-high 55 points in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This helped the Spurs get their first win. Parker averaged a career-high in points per game. He was named an All-Star reserve for 2009. The Spurs made it to the 2009 NBA Playoffs. However, they lost in the first round for the first time since 2000. Parker's playoff averages were his best yet.

In the 2009–10 season, Parker injured his hand and missed 26 games. The Spurs made the 2010 NBA Playoffs. They beat Dallas but lost to Phoenix.

Parker signed a new contract before the 2010–11 season. The Spurs started the season very strong. They had one of the best starts in NBA history. Parker and the Spurs finished as the top team in their conference. But they were upset in the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Playing for LDLC ASVEL (2011)

During the 2011 NBA lockout, Parker played for LDLC ASVEL. This is a French basketball team that he partly owns. He played for a very small salary. He also paid for his own insurance, which was very expensive.

Returning to San Antonio (2011–2018)

Leading the Spurs and Finals Appearances (2011–2013)

Parker shooting a free throw in 2010

In the 2011–12 season, Parker helped the Spurs have the best record in their conference again. On 4 February 2012, Parker became the Spurs' all-time leader in assists. He also scored 42 points in a win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs had their 13th straight season with 50 or more 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 10 December 2012, Parker achieved his first career triple-double. He had 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. He was named Western Conference Player of the Month for January 2013. This was the first time a Spurs player won this award since Tim Duncan in 2002. In the 2013 NBA Finals, Parker hit a key shot in Game 1 against the Miami Heat. However, the Spurs eventually lost the series in seven games.

Winning His Fourth NBA Championship (2013–2014)

In May 2014, Parker, Manu Ginóbili, and Tim Duncan set a record. They tied for the most wins in playoff history as a trio. The Spurs then beat the Thunder and reached the NBA Finals for the second year in a row. San Antonio faced the Miami Heat again. They won the 2014 NBA Finals in five games. This victory gave Parker his fourth championship. It was the fifth championship for the Spurs team.

Final Seasons with the Spurs (2014–2018)

On 1 August 2014, Parker signed a new contract with the Spurs. The Spurs finished the 2014–15 season with a good record. But they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Los Angeles Clippers. Parker struggled in the playoffs due to an injury.

In the 2015–16 season, Parker helped the Spurs win a team-best 67 games. In the 2016 NBA Playoffs, the Spurs swept the Memphis Grizzlies. But they were eliminated in the second round by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Before the 2016–17 season, Parker's longtime teammate Tim Duncan retired. The Spurs still had a great season, winning 61 games. Parker played 63 games and averaged 10.1 points. In the 2017 NBA Playoffs, the Spurs again played the Memphis Grizzlies. San Antonio won the series. Parker averaged 16.3 points in that series. In Game 2 of the next round, Parker injured his left quadriceps tendon. This injury ended his season. It was the first playoff game the Spurs played without Parker since 2001. The injury required surgery.

On 27 November 2017, Parker returned to play after his injury. He played 14 minutes and scored 6 points. 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 11 November 2019, the Spurs retired Parker's No. 9 jersey.

Playing for the Charlotte Hornets (2018–2019)

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

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

Tony Parker's 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. In 2000, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the 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 missed the 2006 FIBA World Championship due to a broken finger.

During the EuroBasket 2007, Parker averaged 20.1 points per game. France lost in the quarter-finals. Parker 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 point in the tournament. This made him the all-time leading scorer in EuroBasket history. This record was later broken by Pau Gasol.

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

On 12 July 2024, the French Federation of Basketball officially retired Parker's national team jersey number 9. This was the first time a number was retired for a player in any French sport.

Tony Parker's Player Profile

Tony 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, other players 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 not very tall for a basketball player, he scored a lot of points close to the basket.

Early in his NBA career, Parker was not a very consistent shooter. So, his coach, Gregg Popovich, worked with him to improve. By the 2006–07 season, Parker's shooting accuracy had greatly improved. He also made 78% of his free throws that season.

Tony Parker's Honors and Awards

Tony Parker's Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season

NBA Playoffs

Tony Parker's Life Off the Court

Owning LDLC ASVEL

In 2009, Parker bought a part of the French basketball club LDLC ASVEL. He became the Vice President of Basketball Operations. During the 2011 NBA lockout, he played for ASVEL for a very low salary. In 2014, Parker became the main owner and president of the team.

In September 2015, Parker started his own basketball academy in Lyon, France. In 2016, he and his partners announced plans for a new arena for LDLC ASVEL.

LDLC ASVEL Féminin (Women's Team)

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

Family Life

Parker with Eva Longoria at the 2008 Emmy Awards

Parker met actress Eva Longoria in 2004. They started dating in 2005 and got engaged in 2006. Longoria often watched Spurs games. They got married in Paris on 6 July 2007. Their friend and fellow NBA player, Boris Diaw, was Parker's best man.

Parker and Longoria at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival

Parker and Longoria divorced in 2011.

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

Since 2021, he has been dating tennis player Alize Lim.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

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 organization helps grant wishes for children with serious medical conditions. Parker said he wanted to help grant as many wishes as possible.

Tony Parker has also supported other charities. He helped with former NBA player Steve Nash's foundation. He also supported Eva's Heroes, an organization started by his former wife.

Music Career

Parker loves hip-hop and rap music. He released a French hip-hop album called TP in 2007. The album featured other artists. One of his songs, "Balance-toi", reached number one in France. Another song, "Premier Love", reached number 11.

Other Interests

Parker was involved in Paris's bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. He was disappointed when London won the bid instead.

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 December 2019, Parker bought a small part of the National Women's Soccer League team, OL Reign. This was part of a bigger deal where a French football club company bought most of the team.

Parker was also part of the Olympic torch relay for the Summer Olympics 2024 in Paris.

Nightclub Incident

On 14 June 2012, Parker was injured at a nightclub in New York City. A fight broke out between entertainers. A piece of glass hit Parker's eye, requiring surgery. He was worried he might miss the 2012 Summer Olympics. However, he was cleared to play on 6 July 2012.

Tony Parker, for his number retirement in July 2024

Movies and Television

In 2008, Tony Parker helped direct a film called 9 – Un chiffre, un homme (English: 9 – a number, a man). It was a documentary about his life. Famous basketball players like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan were in it.

Parker also appeared in the 2008 French film Asterix at the Olympic Games. He had small roles in TV shows like En aparté and On n'est pas couché. He also played himself in the short film The Angels (2011). He made a cameo appearance in the Netflix series Call My Agent (2020). He has been on the TV show Fort Boyard many times. There was also an animated series about him called Baskup - Tony Parker.

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

Business Advisory

On 18 June 2019, it was announced that Tony Parker would lead a new division at NorthRock Partners. This division focuses on sports, artists, and entertainment.

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