Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Manu Ginobili, Boris Diaw. They were all there to honor Tony Parker. The French basketball player entered the San Antonio Spurs Hall of Fame on Monday, 11 November. Her jersey 9 was removed during a ceremony.
Such an honor is rare. It is usually given to those who have not been content with a feat, but who have forged the legend of a team. He is the first Frenchman to receive such a tribute.
Emotion. 🖤
2001 - 2018 # ⃣9⃣ # TonyParker | #MerciTony pic.twitter.com/a8BotZJwRG
"Thanks, San Antonio, it's good to be at home here, it's always going to be home for me, it's very moving," said Tony Parker, who had wanted his swimsuit removed. Honorary Supreme in the NBA Franchises, takes place on this 11th of November marking the end of the First World War.
"My dad is American, my maternal grandfather has had the 'Purple Heart' (an American military medal), we must salute all the veterans," he said, before thanking the assembly: his wife, his two children Josh and Liam, his former coach Gregg Popovich and his former teammates.
Thank you Tony for all those moments of shared happiness! @Tonyparker | #MerciTony pic.twitter.com/xn858VB8f9
San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 12, 2019"You made my life richer"
With Duncan and Ginobili, he formed one of the most talented "Big 3" in NBA history, crowned with four league titles (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014). He is now a member at their side of the club very closed Spurs immortals, along with Johnny Moore, Avery Johnson, James Silas, Sean Elliott and George Gervin.
"I want to apologize for the physical and moral abuse that I did to you ... But the truth is that I was the luckiest man to make you play and see you now enter to the Pantheon of Glory (Spurs) You made my life richer, "greeted" Pop coach "in front of a foggy Parker.
The ceremony, in the presence of many friends of "TP" including the Frenchies who followed suit in the NBA, Boris Diaw, Nicolas Batum, Ian Mahinmi, Ronnie Turiaf, took place just after the defeat of the Spurs against Memphis (113-109).
An impressive track record
Born in 1982 in Bruges, Belgium, an American basketball player and a Dutchman, 37-year-old Tony Parker has the best track record of the tricolor basketball. Trained at Insep, he was the first French player to win an NBA title and also the first European player to win MVP (Most Valuable Player, best player of the season) finals in 2007.
Spearhead of the France team, he also led his national selection to the European title in 2013. Two years later, still at the Euro, he became the best scorer and the best passer in history of the continental competition. Since 2018, less used in the Spurs, he joined the team Hornets Charlotte. But his last season has been disappointing. He announced his retirement last June.
Businessman, he has also become one of the richest French sportsmen thanks to his salary to the Spurs (12 million dollars per season during his great years) and many advertising contracts. He was able to make multiple investments, the latest in the ski resort of Villard-de-Lans. It is to these economic activities that he should henceforth devote a large part of his time, between the United States and France, as well as to the presidency of Asvel, the Villeurbanne club.
With AFP