- Tweeter
republish
Basketball player Tony Parker has officially entered the pantheon of the San Antonio Spurs, the Texas-based NBA franchise. His number, the 9th, was permanently withdrawn on Monday, November 11th.
A jersey appears on the ceiling, flocked to a number 9 that no one else will wear, set by its owner with a child's smile, containing tears despite emotion and pride: Tony Parker entered Monday in the pantheon of San Antonio Spurs. " Thank you, San Antonio. It feels good to be at home. Here it will always be home for me. It is very moving, "said the Frenchman who had hoped that the withdrawal of his jersey, the highest honorary act in the NBA franchises, take place on November 11 marking the end of the First World War.
The Tony Parker jersey with the Spurs removed. In the legend for eternity! 🇫🇷🔥pic.twitter.com / 2e89X3cXp3
Let's talk about NBA (@ParlonsNBA) November 12, 2019Among the immortals ....
With Duncan and Ginobili, he formed one of the most talented "Big 3" in history, crowned with four championship titles (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014). And here he is, a member at their side of the very exclusive club of immortals Spurs, with Johnny Moore, Avery Johnson, James Silas, Sean Elliott and George Gervin.
The ceremony, in the presence of many friends of "TP" including the Frenchies who have 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).
In 17 years in the San Antonio jersey, TP9 played 1198 games totaling 15.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists of average. And has built a stunning record: besides his four rings champion, he was MVP finals 2007, selected six times in the All-Star Game.
Not bad for the 19-year-old and 173-day kid who became November 6, 2001, against Orlando, the youngest playmaker in NBA history.
Thank you Tony for all those moments of shared happiness! @Tonyparker | #MerciTony pic.twitter.com/xn858VB8f9
San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 12, 2019Testimonies of Riner, Zidane, Mbappé
In an AT & T Center where everyone had donned a black T-shirt with his own effigy, written in silver letters "Merci Tony" in French, other recordings were heard from Teddy Riner, the F1 driver Charles Leclerc or again from the Spanish pivot Pau Gasol.
The current blue star Kylian Mbappé hailed " a legend of French sport ", when his elder Zinédine Zidane evoked " one of the first who succeeded in the United States, an example and a reference for all the kids who wanted to succeed in basketball .
Even rapper Snoop Dogg, a fan of Los Angeles Lakers, complied: " TP9 Congratulations, man, you know I love you guy. Spurs leader for life! Big Snoop Dogg gets you Tony! ".
The last word was for the evening hero. " At 19, I played one of my first games against the Lakers of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. And you shouted + Go! Spurs Go! +. So, before leaving, I'd like you to do it again, "Parker told Spurs fans.
Wish granted, deserved homage.
( With AFP )