It’s been seven years since four-time NBA champion Tony Parker retired from the league. As a member of the San Antonio Spurs for a majority of his career, he and fellow teammates Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, under the guidance of their head coach, Gregg Popovich, built a dynasty that was synonymous with excellence, consistency, and professionalism. He and Ginobili, in particular, led a new era of international players finding success in the NBA, which has only grown seven-fold today with the likes of superstars such as Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and fellow Spur, Victor Wembanyama.
Today, Parker is a global ambassador for the NBA, where he helps spread the game of basketball across the globe. He recently visited the Philippines alongside fellow NBA legend Jason Kidd and former WNBA star Lauren Jackson for NBA House Philippines, a weekend of activities centered on the love for the game.
“It’s very hard to be good for a long time. Longevity, it’s very hard in professional sports, and I felt like the whole team, we were all focused on the same objective.”
Rolling Stone Philippines sat down with Parker to discuss his career, life after the NBA, and why fellow French basketball star Wembanyama can become one of the all-time greats.
The following has been edited for clarity.
As someone who has had a handful of championships with the Spurs, and you guys sort of set the standard, which a lot of teams still try to emulate. What qualities do you guys think you had as a team that made you so successful for a long time?
Unselfishness. Everybody buying into the culture of the Spurs and what Pop [Coach Greg Popovich] wanted to put in place. It’s very hard to be good for a long time. Longevity, it’s very hard in professional sports, and I felt like the whole team, we were all focused on the same objective.
How was that unselfishness evident both on the court and off the court?
On the court, it was sharing the ball. We didn’t care who was shining, all we cared about was winning. And off the court, enjoying spending time with each other, going to a lot of dinners together. We’re just enjoying being with each other.
Did that start with Coach Popovich?
Yeah, Pop starts. He sets the standard and where we want to go, and then the leaders have to buy in. And then everybody follows.
“It’s been seven years now that I retired, and I love life. I’m enjoying life, traveling, time with the family, and pivoting into my coaching career.”
How’s life been like for you post-NBA?
I love it. It’s been seven years now that I retired, and I love life. I’m enjoying life, traveling, time with the family, and pivoting into my coaching career. I miss the court and I miss everything, so I’m happy to be back at it. I had a great experience this summer with the [French] national team, and now looking forward to my first year as a professional coach with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne.
Has life away from the NBA or life away from your career changed how you appreciate the game?
Yeah, definitely. Because when you’re in it, everything goes so fast, and you always focus on the next game, and then when you’re out of it, you can appreciate everything a little bit more because everything slows down a little bit. It gives you all those moments where you can take a step back and realize everything that we accomplished as a team.
So speaking of your team, the Spurs became one of the pioneers, and one of the most accomplished, when it came to integrating international players. And now that the league is showcasing more and more international players, how do you think that integration has changed the game?
You know David Stern had that vision with having the NBA become a global sport, starting with the Olympics in ’92 in Barcelona, and I feel like now around the world, talent can come from anywhere, and it’s growing every year. I feel like even now, somebody in the Philippines can become great too. So that’s great for basketball.
Speaking of international players, Victor Wembanyama has become the talk of the town these last couple of years. How would you describe what he’s brought, not just to the Spurs, but to the league, and also vice versa?
Yeah, he’s a unique talent, and it’s part of the evolution that we talked about. I feel like he has all the tools to become one of the best ever, and it’s just a matter of time before he starts winning championships, and hopefully he can bring a lot of championships for the Spurs and a lot of gold medals for the French national team.
One of the things I liked about Victor, especially during his press conferences, is he’s unapologetically competitive, and maybe even antagonistic to his opponents. There are people who’d assume that it’s maybe a French thing, but how would you describe it?
Yeah, he’s unique too in his approach to the game and how he stays ready mentally. And I think it’s very refreshing, Wemby does not want to be compared to anybody. I love that about him.
What do you see the next five years to be like in terms of how the NBA can grow more internationally? And what’s it like to be one of its global basketball ambassadors?
The NBA does a great job growing the game around the world, putting academies everywhere, and spreading the knowledge.
It’s an honor to be an ambassador for the NBA. The game of basketball has been great to me, it’s my way to give back to the sport that I love.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tony Parker is a four-time NBA champion and a Hall of Famer, who recently visited the Philippines last August for NBA House Philippines.
Tony Parker played for the San Antonio Spurs from 2001 until 2018. Then for a year with the Charlotte Hornets (2018-2019).
Victor Wembanyama is a star player for the San Antonio Spurs.
Tony Parker has played alongside Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
Tony Parker played under Gregg Popovich.
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