Tony Parker Believes He Can Have 20-Year Career With Spurs

Post #1 » by **RealGM Wiretap** » Fri Nov 29, 2013 4:20 pm

Tony Parker believes he can play as many as 20 years with the San Antonio Spurs, similar to the longevity of Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Why not?” Parker said. “The way I play, I think I can definitely play that long.”

“When I see (Lakers point guard) Steve Nash being an All-Star at 38, I feel like I've got the same kind of game,” he said. “Neither one of us jumps that much. We're sort of like the kings of layups and great pick-and-roll players, so I can see myself playing that long, too.”

Parker plans to play for France in the 2016 Olympics, which he promised will be his last international competition to Gregg Popovich.

Parker's current deal with the Spurs expires in 2015 and won't turn 32 until May.

“It all depends on what Coach Pop and the Spurs are going to decide with the team, but me, I'd like to play a long time,” said Parker. “I feel like I'm in my prime and my body feels great.

“I take care of my body, and I've already told Coach Pop that after 2016 I will be done with the (French) national team. So I think I can play a long time.”

Via Mike Monroe/San Antonio Express-News

Arsilva · Post #2 » by **Arsilva** » Fri Nov 29, 2013 5:13 pm

Good tip for you, D. Rose: “Neither one of us jumps that much. We're sort of like the kings of layups and great pick-and-roll players (...)"

brucedeng22 · Post #3 » by **brucedeng22** » Fri Nov 29, 2013 5:34 pm

Arsilva wrote:Good tip for you, D. Rose: “Neither one of us jumps that much. We're sort of like the kings of layups and great pick-and-roll players (...)"

i dont get why he didnt shoot more jump shot since thats what he worked on during the injury

The Warrior · Post #4 » by **The Warrior** » Fri Nov 29, 2013 6:39 pm

brucedeng22 wrote:
Arsilva wrote:Good tip for you, D. Rose: “Neither one of us jumps that much. We're sort of like the kings of layups and great pick-and-roll players (...)"

i dont get why he didnt shoot more jump shot since thats what he worked on during the injury

He does when he needs to to keep the opposing teams defense honest, otherwise the SA Spurs offense is predicated on him being active and in attack mode.

Arsilva · Post #5 » by **Arsilva** » Fri Nov 29, 2013 8:05 pm

i dont get why he didnt shoot more jump shot since thats what he worked on during the injury[/quote]

He does when he needs to to keep the opposing teams defense honest, otherwise the SA Spurs offense is predicated on him being active and in attack mode.[/quote]

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I believe he was referring to D.Rose. Anyway, one aspect people tend to underestimate in the trade offs between offensive and defensive intensity. When you have players who can create its own shot, things become simpler and players don't have to spend a lot of energy on cuts and screens, which is the case for Chicago Bulls.

C.Delfino · Post #6 » by **C.Delfino** » Fri Nov 29, 2013 9:32 pm

TP has aged extremely well so far, but I wonder if declining court speed will eventually get to him.

Sam195 · Post #7 » by **Sam195** » Fri Nov 29, 2013 9:48 pm

The question is will TP be willing to sacrifice even more money to stay with the spurs likley during a period when Tim Duncan and Manu have retired. Tony will be 33 when he is a ufa again and if he were to test the free agent market, I'm sure a team would be willing to give him a max deal for 4 years till he turns 37, like he mentioned steve nash made the all star team at age 38. The spurs have gotten tp on discount contracts his entire career. They used the leverage of pursuing Jason Kidd to lock him up to a 6 year 66 million dollar deal that went through his youth and most of his prime. Than they leveraged his injury riddled campaign in 09-10 season where he lost his starting job briefly to George Hill in the playoffs to negotiate a 4 year 50 million dollar deal that wasn't even fully guaranteed. It's got to sting him a bit when he sees point guards like derrick rose, chris paul and deron williams sign 100M deals while he's making so much less. TP's injury history isn't even as bad as the three above mentioned players, he's never had a major surgery on his knees for ligament or meniscus damage like westbrook, rose and cp3. he also deoesn't have chronic ankle issues like deron williams and stephen curry. Will the spurs do right to him and finally award him the max deal he deserves?

Arsilva · Post #8 » by **Arsilva** » Fri Nov 29, 2013 10:41 pm

Sam195 wrote:The question is will TP be willing to sacrifice even more money to stay with the spurs likley during a period when Tim Duncan and Manu have retired. Tony will be 33 when he is a ufa again and if he were to test the free agent market, I'm sure a team would be willing to give him a max deal for 4 years till he turns 37, like he mentioned steve nash made the all star team at age 38. The spurs have gotten tp on discount contracts his entire career. They used the leverage of pursuing Jason Kidd to lock him up to a 6 year 66 million dollar deal that went through his youth and most of his prime. Than they leveraged his injury riddled campaign in 09-10 season where he lost his starting job briefly to George Hill in the playoffs to negotiate a 4 year 50 million dollar deal that wasn't even fully guaranteed. It's got to sting him a bit when he sees point guards like derrick rose, chris paul and deron williams sign 100M deals while he's making so much less. TP's injury history isn't even as bad as the three above mentioned players, he's never had a major surgery on his knees for ligament or meniscus damage like westbrook, rose and cp3. he also deoesn't have chronic ankle issues like deron williams and stephen curry. Will the spurs do right to him and finally award him the max deal he deserves?

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I have been reading a lot of comments projecting that T.Parker and Lenard will maintain the Spurs as a contender once T.Duncan retires....I'm a bit skeptical about that....if they can't find an all star big man who can complete a new big three and keep them fighting for rings, I think Parker will look for a brighter stage, like NY or Brooklyn, which has an unlimited budget and a pick and roll big man in Brook Lopez. He also enjoys hanging around with singers and celebrities, another factor to consider.

D21 · Post #9 » by **D21** » Sat Nov 30, 2013 12:42 am

Sam195 wrote:The question is will TP be willing to sacrifice even more money to stay with the spurs likley during a period when Tim Duncan and Manu have retired... It's got to sting him a bit when he sees point guards like derrick rose, chris paul and deron williams sign 100M deals while he's making so much less

Not sure. I think that if you had to ask him to chose between making 12M/yr and at least three championships, and making 20M/yr and no championship, Parker is the kind of player that would pick the first option.
As long as SAS stays a contender (there will be work once Duncan and Ginobili will go), he will keep his 12M and try to win a title being the leader of the team.

King4Day · Post #10 » by **King4Day** » Sat Nov 30, 2013 3:20 am

It'll be hard to believe Parker would be that valuable to the team where they wouldn't trade or not re-sign him. I have a hard time believing they will treat him like the Spurs do Duncan or LAL does Kobe.

Woodsanity · Post #11 » by **Woodsanity** » Sat Nov 30, 2013 3:59 am

It might be possible since he has his minutes micromanaged by Pop and gets plenty of rest. On any other team its not a possibility and no his game is not exactly conducive for longevity. If he played heavy minutes he would not have lasted as long.