Controversy Surrounding Tony Parker’s Claim of Being a “Franchise Player” in the NBA

Tony Parker alienated part of the basketball community by claiming that he had been the “franchise player” of the San Antonio Spurs.

Retired from the courts since 2019, after a last uneventful season with the Charlotte Hornets, Tony Parker is a very active retiree. In addition to his role as president of ASVEL, a club in which he opened his academy, “TP” multiplies his business. Already involved in sport, leisure, tourism or gastronomy, the former Blues playmaker also invests in various startups, as he does in the show Who wants to be my partner? broadcast on M6. Which doesn’t stop him from keeping a close eye on NBA news.

Invited to speak on the emergence of several European stars in the league, the MVP of the 2007 Finals indulged in a comment which caused controversy among basketball fans. “20 or 25 years ago, it wasn’t like that at allhe remembers in the show NBA Undrafted. I am the first European playmaker to have succeeded in the NBA. That was already a first. And when you looked, there were a few European players who had succeeded, but we didn’t say that a European could be a franchise player. »

“Parker has never been a franchise player! »

And the former San Antonio Spurs metronome continues: “It was when I arrived, with Dirk (Nowitzki), Pau (Gasol) and (Andreï) Kirilenko, that we saw for the first time franchises saying to themselves that in fact, they could have a European player like franchise player. I think this is the door that we opened with Pau and Dirk. » Like him, the Spaniard with the Los Angeles Lakers and the German with the Dallas Mavericks have won at least one ring, showing the way to a generation embodied by Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Luka Doncic.

But some observers on social media took exception to the use of the term « franchise player » by the one who played alongside David Robinson in his early days, and especially with the legend Tim Duncan. “I like Tony Parker, and he had a great career… But he was never a franchise player! », we can read on X (formerly Twitter). Or: “Good speech and huge player Tony Parker, no worries about that. On the other hand, franchise player… Sorry but it’s totally false, Nowitzki and possibly Pau Gasol yes, but ‘TP’ no, never. »

And even: “I really like the promo Tony Parker is doing at the moment, but what are the dates of his one-man show? » The four-time NBA champion can, however, count on the support of other followers, one of them having recalled his service record: “Let’s remember the facts: Tony Parker is one of the most influential European players all-time, he is the first European point guard to establish himself in the NBA, he is the first non-American to have won an MVP title in the finals (and could have had 2), he is a precursor. »

2024-02-29 12:21:00
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