Player's Tribune: Thank you, San Antonio by Tony Parker

[Dex]

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en...-antonio-spurs

Some good insights on his time with Tim, Pop, and the Spurs, and the way his career and role evolved.

Even if it was time, it's still bittersweet to see him go. Will be rooting for him in Charlotte, and look forward to seeing #9 in the rafters some day.

[Dex]

One particularly interesting tidbit:

The last “Pop decision” of my Spurs career, I’ll say, I think it’s very telling — because it was like the shoe now was on the other foot. This time it was Dejounte who was playing my role, as the young Spurs point who was going to get some news. And then it was almost like, for this one, I was the Pop figure leading the conversation now.

I came up to Pop one day, and I told him my thoughts: It was time for Dejounte to take over full-time as our starting point guard. I didn’t want it to be a dramatic thing, or this ego thing, or one of these big media things, but I just wanted to get it out in the open — for the good of Dejounte’s development, and for the good of the team. Pop agreed, and thanked me. And then I went and had the same conversation with Dejounte. He was grateful.

Was it bittersweet? You know what, I’m not trying to seem like a robot here or anything, but it really wasn’t. It’s a discipline thing, I think. That’s just kind of the way that I was raised, and how I’ve grown up as a player — to always stay moving forward. Of course don’t get me wrong: every now and then, you know, Manu and Timmy and I, we’ll get together for dinner … and when this happens, for sure, then it’s time for a little bit of nostalgia. You can’t help it — and we have this great time, sharing all these great memories back and forth. But when it’s in-season? And I’m in work mode? When you’re in work mode in this league, I think, you have to be pretty disciplined: about letting the present stay the present, and the past stay the past.

And so that’s how I tried to keep that moment. I wanted Dejounte to know that he’d earned it — but also that what the decision came down to, in the end, was the exact same thing that it would always come down to during his time in San Antonio: the good of the Spurs.

[ducks]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/tony-pa...162948537.html

[ducks]

One particularly interesting tidbit:

BUT HE IS IS A ING TERRIBLE TEAMATE

[ducks]

Did I miss leonard 's???????????????????????????????????????

[valleybeyond]

great read. this was also interesting/confirms (reaffirms) everything about Tim being the backbone of the culture/Spurs Way:

"People would always ask about why the guys on our teams were so coachable — about how we always seemed to squeeze nearly the best results possible from any player who came through our organization. And how, when new guys would come here, they would seem to just sort of magically get better, you know, or transform their work ethic, or get rid of this one flaw that had been holding their game back. And I tell people, always, that this wasn’t magic. I tell them that we had an elite coaching staff, an elite training staff, sure. I tell them that we obviously had a one-of-a-kind head coach in Pop. But if you want to know the thing that set us apart the most in these situations? It’s Timmy, man. It really was Timmy. Simple as that.Because here’s the thing with Tim Duncan: Was he the greatest player of all time? I don’t know — he’s the greatest I ever played with, I’ll say that, and I’ll let the experts take it from there. But here’s one thing I’ll tell you, absolutely: Timmy was the most coachable great player of all time.


That was always our secret weapon, to me: You see this all-world player, this All-NBA First Team, MVP of the Finals, about to be MVP of the league guy, and here he is in practice, willing to be coached like he’s fighting for a spot on the team. It was unreal. And if you think that’s too passive for a star player to be?

Well, then you’re not thinking it through on Tim’s level. Because Tim knew the truth: which was that to let himself be coached in this way, you know … that’s true charisma, and that’s true swagger. It’s like he was challenging everyone else in our gym: The best player in the entire league is willing to put his ego aside for the good of this team — are you?
And that was the deal, you know? Guys would come in, take a look around, and eventually they would do as Tim does."

We won't be seeing another big 3 like this big 3 for a long, long time.

[TimmyBuckets]

[Brazil]

great read tbh...

"I have the Spurs and I have San Antonio to thank for it.And I will carry that with pride."

[Brazil]

I love the fact it is written but still full of "you know"

[bklynspursfan]

HOTS

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

I love the fact it is written but still full of "you know"

[BatManu20]

[Capt Bringdown]

Dynamic Duo = Tim & TP, the heart and soul of Spurs

[TDomination]

Great read. It was interesting reading that he told pop to start murray. Most of us kept saying how Pop finally came to his senses lol but perhaps he would've kept starting parker if it wasn't for Parkers suggestion?

I loved his statements about timmy. I think its obvious we had a once in a lifetime player.

[Vic Petro]

[SpursDynasty85]

Great read. It was interesting reading that he told pop to start murray. Most of us kept saying how Pop finally came to his senses lol but perhaps he would've kept starting parker if it wasn't for Parkers suggestion?

I loved his statements about timmy. I think its obvious we had a once in a lifetime player.

Yea. I believe it 100 percent although you could argue Parker should've said that at training camp coming back from that crazy thigh injury.

I recall him saying around December of last year, he felt good coming back so soon from the injury but he hit a road block in his recovery around that time. His thigh was probably not responding we since it was just a few months ago he ruptured it. He should be healthier than last year but now the Spurs have too many PGs and SGs.

Good for TP. He was not a perfect player but he did his best to help the Spurs win championships. Anyone that takes Stephen Jackson's side over TP is no true Spurs fan.

Tony took less money his whole career except his last contract to stay with the Spurs. Stephen Jackson chased the money his whole career and got kicked off the Spurs in the middle of a playoff run in 2012. Had a relatively forgettable career compared to TP and he is now trolling on any radio show or TV show that will take him.

I don't blame Stephen Jackson for trying to make a 2nd career but he's obviously creating narratives for more media exposure.

[kaji157]

Really a good piece, needed at this time of the franchise.

[davidbowie]

Glad I never made my “why hasn’t tony officially thanked the spurs” thread lol

[TheGreatYacht]

Dynamic Duo = Tim & TP, the heart and soul of Spurs

[LaMarcus Bryant]

That bit about Manu shaving his floppy hair

[DPG21920]

You can definitely tell it was actually TP that wrote this. Great read.

[J_Paco]

I'm both relieved and sad that Tony's time is over. Sad because all the great memories, moments and to see a once great player decline to such a degree. But, I'm also relieved because it was time to find the "next guy" to run PG for the Spurs.

I'll miss his blinding speed, fearlessness in the paint, that absolutely beautiful spin move (into a layup) and patented floater.

This was a great piece and I'm thankful to him, Timmy and Manu for all the championships, moments and great/bad memories.

Also, I'm pretty sure the "demotion" was a mutually agreed upon decision between Pop & Tony. It took Tony putting his ego aside and Pop to have the stones to bench the team's all - time best PG.

[gospursgojas]

Great read. Really preached “the good of the team” which really was tested this summer. Thank you TP.

[Russ]

What a great player and person.

The only Spur other than Tim Duncan to win Finals MVP!

[gambit1990]

wish he had written it a couple seasons ago.