Tony Parker (Part 2)

Despite doubts surrounding his future with the Spurs, Tony Parker expressed his desire to remain the team's starting point guard when the organization failed to acquire Jason Kidd from the New Jersey Nets. Parker's determination paid off during the 2003–04 season as he continued to perform well, averaging 14.7 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. However, the Spurs' postseason journey was cut short when they were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semi-finals, preventing them from securing back-to-back titles.


Heading into the 2004–05 season, Parker further improved his regular-season statistics, posting averages of 16.6 points, 6.1 assists, and a career-high 3.7 rebounds per game. He ranked 13th in the league in total assists and was among the top point guards in field goal percentage. Throughout the playoffs, Parker played a crucial role in the Spurs' victories over teams like the Denver Nuggets, Seattle SuperSonics, and Phoenix Suns.
However, Parker faced challenges during the NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons. Despite his regular-season success, Parker struggled in the Finals series, with teammates Manu Ginóbili and Brent Barry often assuming playmaking responsibilities. Despite his struggles, the Spurs managed to secure their third NBA championship by defeating the Pistons in a hard-fought series, winning 4–3.


During the 2005–06 season, Tony Parker earned his first NBA All-Star selection after averaging 18.9 points per game and an impressive field goal percentage of .548. His scoring prowess, even surpassing that of his teammate Tim Duncan, contributed significantly to the San Antonio Spurs' successful season, culminating in a 63–19 win-loss record and a spot in the 2006 NBA Playoffs. Despite their top seeding, the Spurs fell short of winning back-to-back titles, exiting in the second round after being eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks.


In the first half of the 2006–07 season, Parker continued to deliver consistent performances, earning him a spot as a reserve guard in the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. As the starting point guard for the Spurs that season, Parker played a pivotal role in guiding the team to a second-place finish in the Southwest Division and a berth in the 2007 NBA Playoffs. In the Western Conference Semifinals, they faced off against the Phoenix Suns, led by Steve Nash. After defeating the Suns, the Spurs advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they defeated the Utah Jazz 4–1.
In the 2007 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Parker's stellar play stood out as he consistently outperformed his counterparts, including Daniel Gibson and Larry Hughes. He averaged 24.5 points per game in the series with an impressive field goal percentage of 56.8% and a three-point shooting percentage of 57.1%. Parker's outstanding performance earned him the title of the 2007 NBA Finals MVP, making him the first European-born player to receive this honor.


In the 2007–08 regular season, Tony Parker maintained similar averages in points and rebounds compared to the previous two seasons, while slightly increasing his assists per game. The San Antonio Spurs finished third in the Western Conference and faced the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs. Parker played exceptionally well in the series, averaging nearly 30 points and 7 assists per game, helping the Spurs advance past the Suns for the third time in four years.
In the following round against Chris Paul's New Orleans Hornets, the Spurs dropped the first two road games but responded with a strong win in the third game, with Parker recording a double-double of 31 points and 11 assists. Despite their resilience, the Spurs were unable to overcome the Los Angeles Lakers in the Conference Finals, marking another unsuccessful attempt at back-to-back NBA championships.


The 2008–09 NBA season began with a rocky start for the Spurs, losing their first three games. However, Parker delivered a career-high performance of 55 points in the fourth game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, leading the Spurs to their first victory of the season. Despite challenges, Parker's stellar play earned him a spot as a reserve in the 2009 All-Star game.
Throughout the season, Parker's responsibilities increased due to Manu Ginóbili's absence due to injury. Parker's contributions helped the Spurs secure a 54–28 record and the third seed for the playoffs. However, they were eliminated in the first round by the Dallas Mavericks, marking their earliest playoff exit since 2000. Parker's impressive postseason performance earned him a spot on the All-NBA Third Team.


In the subsequent 2009–10 season, injuries plagued Parker as he missed 26 games due to a hand injury. Despite this setback, the Spurs managed to qualify for the playoffs as the seventh seed but were eliminated in the second round by the Phoenix Suns.
The 2010–11 season started strong for the Spurs, with a 12-game winning streak and a 35–6 record halfway through the season. They finished as the first seed in the West for the playoffs but suffered an upset in the first round, losing 4–2 to the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.

References

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3. ^ My Family, tp9.net, Retrieved 14 June 2007.
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5. ^ "Tony Parker répond aux journalistes". NBA.com (in French). Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019. Je suis français. Mon père est américain, j'ai un passeport américain et un passeport français et j'ai grandi en France. Je suis 50/50. (I am French. My father is American, I have an American passport and a French passport and I grew up in France. I am 50/50.)
6. ^ Brunet, Romain (4 August 2016). "NBA great Tony Parker looks to crown career with Olympic medal". France24.com. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
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