Euroleague (DR) / NBA (DR)
Author of a fabulous career with Spurs, Tony Parker is clearly one of the best European players of all time. Recently interviewed by SKWEEKhe however chose to exclude himself from the discussion around the GOAT of the Old Continent, citing a former rival of his for this honorary title.
As for the collective prize list, no other European player comes close to Tony Parker. Never the questionable boss in San Antonio, the Frenchman logically suffered from it at the time of the individual awards but that did not prevent him from winning four league titles during his career. All while becoming the best point guard in the history of the Texans, who retired his jersey.
Not only has the Habs been a hit on the NBA courts, but he has also done the same with his country. European champion in 2013 with the Blues, TP has often helped his team to go far in FIBA competitions, playing several legendary matches against Spain in particular. The opportunity for him also to rub shoulders with other European legends, such as Pau Gasol or Dirk Nowitzki.
Today, while four of the last five MVPs have been won by European players, one can legitimately wonder which of them the GOAT of his discipline, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo having built up solid records. Asked by SKWEEK (to be found in full here), Parker, however, decided on the spot by snubbing the athletes in activity. This great honor would thus go to one of his former rivals:
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TP’s massive tribute to Dirk Nowitzki
SKWEEK : You played with the best, you played with Duncan, you played with Robinson, you’re a Hall of Famer, you’re one of the best Europeans who played in the NBA, alongside Gasol and Nowitzki. With which of these Europeans would you have liked to play? Who would have done in relation to the Spurs culture?
Tony Parker : I would say Dirk because I liked pick-and-rolling and doing that with Dirk, it would have been hard to stop us, you can’t leave him alone. So I would have said Dirk and for me Dirk, after the competition it happens you see there is Giannis, Jokic, but Dirk for me remains the best European in the NBA, the best European by far and more.
SKWEEK : So you put it in front of you?
Tony Parker : Yeah because frankly Dirk, what he accomplished in the NBA frankly it’s strong. I did things too, but Dirk frankly it’s strong what he did.
Given that he and the Wunderkind have often clashed, with Dallas and the Spurs being division rivals, one understands his verdict. Champion, MVP and author of more than 30,000 career points, the German deserves this compliment.
For Tony Parker, there is no doubt about it: Dirk Nowitzki is the best European to have ever walked the NBA floors. If Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have already caught up with him in terms of awards, the German giant has marked the league with unfailing loyalty to his Mavericks where he played for 21 years. Good luck doing so well!
2023-07-01 18:48:52
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