One of the disturbing trends seen as time passes is that great players are forgotten. It’s easy to tell when some current ballers like Anthony Edwards or LeBron James ignorantly speak about the past or when broadcast partners put up stats like “post-merger,” voluntarily excluding some. Additionally, enough years have gone by that JJ Redick called Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a “one-note wonder” as a scorer in 2023. If someone as great as Kareem’s reputation can be perverted by the loud voices, what do you think could happen to the legendary Spurs?
Tony Parker is the standard by which all San Antonio point guards are measured. Only eight players at the position have more rings, and he was the leader in all-time playoff points for PGs until Stephen Curry took it in late April. Parker held on to that mark for six years after retirement.
He logged 45,034 total minutes in a Spurs uniform through 17 seasons, never missing the playoffs with them. It didn’t matter that he was undersized; Parker was a fearless blur with high IQ. Additionally, he’s first in playoff assists (1,143), second in points (4,045), field goals (1,613), minutes (7,758) and steals (198) for the Spurs.
Memories of Parker’s big-time buckets still please the soul or horrify the fans who were victimized. For those who miss him, the NBA league pass lets you watch full seasons as far back as 2012-13. Spurs fans can watch his last two great playoff runs and classic games he participated in on the winning and losing sides.
Let’s review nine of Parker’s signature moments in honor of his 43rd birthday:
**9\. Fourth game of the season at Minnesota, 2008-09.**
He logged 10 assists and a double-nickel (55), making the most field goals (20) he ever made in the regular season, helping the team escape with a win in Minnesota after a three-game losing streak to start the season. No one was fast enough to set up pick-up points in transition against him or bother him as soon he whipped around a screen for a layup or jump shot. Never forget how he nailed the right-side baseline jumper to force double overtime.
**8\. Eighteen assists and two turnovers in Game two of the 2013 West Finals against Memphis**
He was a monster as he lacerated schemes and two connections to Duncan helped take control of overtime. He notably logged eight assists in the third frame, which is the most by a Spur since they were tracked per quarter in 1996-97, per Stathead.
**7\. 2012-13 season home opener**
They hosted the Thunder, the team that had ended their season in six games months earlier. Parker had 14 points with 11 assists and one turnover and was the hero of the night as he curled past a stagger screen and made the game-winning shot over Serge Ibaka.
**6\. EuroBasket 2013 Semi-finals v. Spain**
Fresh off the Spurs’ Finals loss to the Heat, Parker, age 31, was competing for his national team three months later. His best showing came as he carried the team, dribbling and cutting through coverages as all opponents were eluded by his speed. He scored 32 points on 58 percent shooting through regulation and overtime in France’s 75-72 win over Spain. The rest of the squad only made 23.4 percent of attempts. Parker averaged 19 points through the tournament, winning MVP and leading France to the title.
**5\. Game 3, 2003 Finals**
The Spurs had more turnovers (7) than field goals (6) in the first quarter. Parker, in his second season, went on to set a career-high for most playoff triples (4, still stands). He was shooting 22 percent from 3-point range with only 10 makes up to that point in the playoffs. On top of that, he outplayed Jason Kidd in the fourth quarter, outscoring him 11-2.
**4\. Game 1 2013 Finals against Miami**
Keep in mind, a summer before, Drake and Chris Brown’s dust-up at a club almost blinded Tony Parker after a shard of glass had to be pulled out of his eye. About a year later, the defending champs Heat had the fifth-ranked playoff defense but had no answers for Parker’s dribble moves. Ten of his 21 points came in the fourth quarter and he had zero turnovers for the night with six dimes.
He saved his best for last as he beat Chris Bosh’s switch then fell to one knee before scrambling away from LeBron James for a shot that kissed the glass, putting the game out of reach.
**3\. Game 2 v. Dallas, 2009**
This was the run they were missing Manu Ginóbili because of a right ankle injury. The Spurs lost the opener as Parker had played a weak second half. In Game 2, he tied his highest-scoring playoff quarter (19) as he penetrated the lane for inside baskets and shot over defenders at mid-range. He ended the night with 38 points on 72.7 percent shooting, leading the team to its only playoff win that season.
**2\. 2007 Finals v. Cavaliers**
The Cavaliers weren’t talented enough to compete with the Spurs, and one of their big problems was not stopping Parker from going right. He became the first European to earn the Finals MVP trophy, and this run capped off three championships in five years. Keep in mind that the last two games were decided by four points. One of the plays branded into memory was his upcourt feed in between two defenders to Francisco Elson.
**1\. Game six, 2003 West Semifinals, against the Lakers**
This was the Spurs’ fourth playoff matchup in five seasons with the Lakers. Coach Popovich verbally destroyed Parker for taking a bad shot and then giving up a 4-point play in short sequence at the end of the first quarter. Next, Parker and Tim Duncan proceeded to sever coverages with screen-roll attacks.
The former finished with 27 points and helped put the game out of reach early in the fourth with two freebies and two setups for Manu Ginóbili and Duncan. LA then signed Gary Payton and Karl Malone so they could contain the Spurs’ pick-and-roll attack. After the game, Popovich praised Parker’s mental toughness.