San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker has come a long, long way in eight seasons. Literally. First, he traveled more than 5,000 miles from France to start his NBA career. Then he went from a raw rookie who lacked confidence to one of the best point guards in the league to slick ballhandler that can score on layups and floaters, or dish the ball to a teammate for an open shot.
Stepping Up
In the 2008-09 season, Tony was better than ever. While teammates Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan were in and out of the Spurs' lineup because of injuries, he stepped up to average 22.0 points and 6.9 assists per game, the best numbers of his career.
Incredible Import
William Anthony Parker was born on may 17, 1982 in Bruges, Belgium. His dad, also Tony, was a very good basketball player in Europe, where he taught Tony (and his two younger brothers) how to play the game.
Because Tony decided to stay overseas instead of attending a major college, his name wasn't well-known in the U.S. before the 2001 Draft. The Spurs had the 28th pick in the first round, and when he was available there, they were quick to take him. Years later, Tony remains very popular in France, where he plays for the national team in international competitions. When he's in a public place, photographers usually aren't very far behind him.
But where Tony feels MOST comfortable is on the basketball court. He has such super-quick moves, few players - if any - can touch him there.
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