As Spurs legend Tony Parker gears up for his enshrinement into the Hall of Fame, he takes a nostalgic stroll down memory lane to his rookie year and the unique bond he shared with none other than Tim Duncan.
The four-time NBA champion and former All-Star recalled his first season in the league, marked by a rather unexpected approach from Duncan.
Parker, who was a fresh-faced 19-year-old rookie coming from Europe in 2001, reminisced about his early days in the league alongside a 25-year-old Tim Duncan, a seasoned All-Star on his path to becoming the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. “He didn’t talk to me my whole first year,” Parker revealed, via Chuck McDonald of San Antonio Express News.
The silence between the two icons in the making finally thawed during that season’s intense playoffs. Parker, facing off against the formidable Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton, a future Hall of Famer himself, held his own and emerged triumphant. It was during this pivotal playoff series that Duncan finally broke his silence, offering words of encouragement that would remain etched in Parker’s memory.
“It was only after that series that Timmy looked at me and said, ‘You’re going to be alright, Little Frenchy,’” Parker shared.
