Since the first class in 1959, 197 former players - the Hall of Fame is also composed of players, coaches, teams, referees, executives and other contributors - from the North American league and elsewhere, have been inducted by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the body that manages this "basketball hall of fame".

A solemn moment, reserved in honor of the legends of the orange ball, from Michael Jordan to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell or Kobe Bryant honored posthumously in 2021.

Four years after hanging up his sneakers, the time for "TP" will come, while the German Dirk Nowitzki (champion in 2011 with Dallas, 6th best scorer in history, MVP 2007), the Spaniard Pau Gasol (champion in 2009 and 2010 with the Lakers) and Dwyane Wade (champion 2006, 2012 and 2013 with Miami, MVP of the 2006 finals) are also among the twelve finalists.

German Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki on April 12, 2014, during an NBA game in Dallas © TOM PENNINGTON / Getty / AFP / Archives

When he left in 2019, Parker had the great honor, another first for a "Frenchie", to see his number 9 jersey retired by the San Antonio Spurs, with whom he forged an exceptional record in 17 seasons (2001-2018), before playing one last with the Charlotte Hornets.

With Popovich

His appointment to the institution will also allow him to join Tim Duncan and Argentinian Manu Ginobili, already members since 2020 and 2022. Together, they formed one of the most successful "Big3" in history and hung four rings on their fingers in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.

Parker thus became at the age of 21 the first Frenchman crowned champion. Only Ian Mahinmi and Rodrigue Beaubois with Dallas (2011), Ronny Turiaf with Miami (2012), Boris Diaw with "TP" and the Spurs (2014) and Axel Toupane with Milwaukee (2021) have experienced such recognition.

And it is the third title won in 2007, at the expense of the Cavaliers of young LeBron James, which bears his mark: with his 24.5 points average, he was named best player of the final.

Tony Parker talks with coach Gregg Popovic during the Spurs' trip to Detroit, February 10, 2017 © Gregory Shamus/Getty/AFP/Archives

These achievements, plus many others - six All-Star Game selections (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014), three times present in the second best team of the season (2012, 2013, 2014), voted player of the month in the Western Conference in January 2013, eight times voted player of the week ... - were achieved under the leadership of Gregg Popovich.

Things being well done, the 74-year-old coach, still active at the head of the Spurs, who sees in Parker the stuff of a great champion upon his arrival in Texas from Insep, will also be in the 2023 vintage.

Inducted August 12

It is also surprising that "Pop" had to wait so long to be honored, being one of the greatest coaches in history, who guided San Antonio to its five titles, the first in 1999 already with Tim Duncan, record holder of victories in the NBA and Olympic champion with Team USA in 2021.

But he wanted things to be done in a certain order. "To tell you what a man he is, he wanted to make sure his guys were the first to come in... With Parker, the band will be complete and then it will be his turn," said Jerry Colangelo, president of the Hall of Fame.

San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon during an NBA game in Philadelphia, January 7, 2022 © Tim Nwachukwu / Getty / AFP / Archives

The induction ceremony scheduled for August 12 in Springfield (Massachusetts) will have all the more a Texas flavor, that Becky Hammon, former WNBA player, should be. From 2014 to 2021, she was Popovich's assistant, becoming the first female head coach of a professional men's team for a short time interim.

For "TP", whose CV is also provided with the France team, including a European championship title in 2013, the circle is about to be closed in the most beautiful way with the NBA. Or not yet. Because the owner of the Asvel in France has never hidden his ambition to own a franchise in the United States.

© 2023 AFP