Tony Parker Plans To Play 6-7 More Seasons In NBA

[RealGM Wiretap]

Tony Parker would like to spend the final season of his basketball career in France, but he believes he has many seasons remaining in the NBA.

"I always said I'd like to do the final year of my career in France, but I still want to play a long time in the NBA for six-seven years," said Parker. "I would like to have a long career. I feel good physically. I love basketball, I'm passionate. I want to play as long as possible."

Parker is 31 and is scheduled to become a free agent in 2015.

Via Michael Rehome/Project Spurs

[BlzMwt]

i wonder if duncan and ginobli retire.. will coaching tony parker, kawhi and whatever else the front office puts around them will be enough for popovich to continue and not retire himself

[Sam195]

The spurs are going to extend him three more years at seasons end when they pick up his team option this summer likely at the max raises which will be 3 years 45 million on top of the 12,500,000 he's under contract for the 2014-15 season. I don't see the spurs letting him hit ufa status anytime soon and I don't think he wants to be a ufa at age 33 which he will be if the spurs pick up his team option (which they will cause if they don't they have to pay him 3.5M) and don't extend him. Also I don't think other teams on the market are dying to pay aging point guards with new deals that go into their late 30s. The last two teams to do that were the nuggets and lakers with andre miller and steve nash. One is missing games because of frequent injury and the other is banned from his team for clashing with his coach for more playing time.

[Rated T By CBRA]

I can see him staying in the NBA for 4-5 more season, especially if he can be part of a contending team. Also cool that he wants to finish his career in France, try something a little different outside the NBA.

[samjones]

Yup. Easily hitting 20,000 points. Hopefully Pop sticks around to coach him without Duncan.

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

Good for the game...

[CHAMPi0N]

And I planned to play in the NBA for 20 seasons... but that didn't work out

[Damon_3388]

i wonder if duncan and ginobli retire.. will coaching tony parker, kawhi and whatever else the front office puts around them will be enough for popovich to continue and not retire himself

It might actually present a fresh sort of challenge which could rejuvenate Pop for the task, if he was somehow feeling "bored" by it.

[truthiness]

i wonder if duncan and ginobli retire.. will coaching tony parker, kawhi and whatever else the front office puts around them will be enough for popovich to continue and not retire himself

Pops said a long while ago that when Tim's done, he's done as well.
IIRC, he even said "if he goes out NOW, I'll just follow him".

I don't think Pops feels he has anything left to prove. He might be convinced to stay, but I don't think he feels he NEEDS it.

[NYKnickerbocker]

That's good

Knicks can give him a max contract when's he's washed up