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Tony Parker in the Hall of Fame, a first for a Frenchman

Unsurprisingly, the former Spurs point guard will be part of the 2023 vintage of new entrants to the US basketball pantheon alongside his ex-coach, Gregg Popovich.

By Christophe Discount

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Tony Parker will join Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli at the “HOF”. Panoramic

It’s no secret that Gregg Popovich made Tony Parker cry during his early years in San Antonio. On August 12, during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, tears will undoubtedly flow down the cheeks of the two men, tears of joy. As reported by Adrian Wojnarowski ofESPN, “TP” will be part of the 2023 class of newcomers to the pantheon of American basketball, like his illustrious coach in San Antonio. We knew that the former Spurs tricolor playmaker had been among the finalists since last month. It was still necessary that his name be dubbed by the members of the committee, that is to say at least 18 votes out of 24. It is done. The news will be made official next Saturday, on the sidelines of the Final Four of the university championship (NCAA), in Houston.

Obvious for the one who was taken for a madman when he dreamed aloud of playing in the NBA since the Normandy of his childhood, then at Insep and in Paris. As ambitious as he is, Parker, 40, did not even imagine a golden destiny in the big North American league, just to be there, to play. It must be said that at the time, Europeans, and more generally non-American players, were not very numerous on the other side of the Atlantic, whereas they make the law there today, like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic or even Nikola Jokic.

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Four champion rings

It took boys like Parker to lead the way. Drafted in the 28th position of the 2001 vintage, the native of Bruges quickly integrated the rotation, then the five major of San Antonio. For the best. Alongside Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, and under the orders of “Pop”, who is in his 26th season in charge of Spurs at 74, Tony Parker helped write the legend of the Alamo City franchise, with four championship rings (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), a Finals MVP title (2007) and six All Star Game selections (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014). After 17 seasons of good and loyal service, the former innkeeper of the Blues went to the Hornets of his childhood idol, Michael Jordan, for one last freelance, before hanging up, in 2019. Giant. A revolutionary leader with his fast-paced style of play and his appetite for scoring, he ended his career with an average of 15.5 points and 5.6 assists in the regular season (1,254 games) and 17.9 points and 5 .1 “assists” in the play-offs, from the top of “small” his 88 meter.

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All without neglecting French basketball and the Blues, he who offered the French men’s team its first – and so far the only – title in its history. It was during Euro 2013, in Slovenia. Since the end of his career, he has continued to work for the big orange ball and French sport via Asvel or other commitments, such as his role as ambassador for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. is for his American exploits that “TP” will be honored in August in Springfield, Massachusetts. A Frenchman in the Hall of Fame? This is a great first, and an incredible honor. Triple best defender in the league, Rudy Gobert may be entitled to it one day. Promised to the first choice of the Draft next spring, the phenomenon Victor Wembanyama, 19, is programmed for it.

Wade, Gasol and Nowitzki in the pantheon

In addition to Popovich, Parker will be accompanied by two other pioneers from the Old Continent in this 2023 class, the Spaniard Pau Gasol, crowned in 2009 and 2010 with Kobe Bryant’s Lakers, six times All Star and twice Olympic vice-champion, and Dirk Nowitzki, MVP in 2007, sixth highest scorer in NBA history and champion in 2011 with Dallas. Winner of the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2006 (MVP of the Finals), 2012 and 2013 with Miami, 13 times All Star and Olympic champion in 2008, Dwyane Wade will also enter the pantheon of US basketball, as will double WNBA champion Becky Hammon, current coach of the Las Vegas Aces and former assistant to Gregg Popovich, record holder for the number of regular season wins for a coach (1,363) and five-time champion at the controls of San Antonio (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) . Heavy.

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