Tony Parker with David Loriot - Tony Parker: beyond All of My Dreams

Contents

Introduction

On June 10, 2019, I officially announced the end of my career as a basketball player. I had just celebrated my 37 th birthday, and even though I had one year left on my contract with the Charlotte Hornets, I felt that the time had come to close the chaptera 20-year chapter of a life that was richer and more beautiful than I could have ever imagined at the tender age of 11, when I dreamed of being an NBA player.

In 2017, after tearing the tendon of my left quad, I had major surgery and spent seven months recovering. A lot of people thought that I would never set foot on a court again. But I knew it was not possible for me to go out this way. So I foughtand I came back, at first with the Spurs, my favorite team, and then one final season in a Charlotte Hornets jersey. I signed that contract in the summer of 2018. It was my only season as a free agent in my 18-year NBA career. The Hornets had Michael Jordan, my idol, and Nicolas Batum, my friend. I had come full circle. I had not allowed the circumstances to end my career. The decision was all mine, and I made it with total peace of mind.

Throughout my 20-year professional career playing basketball, I have always had the mindset not to allow my decisions to be dictated by other people. I worked to never let difficult circumstances influence my destiny. I had to fight against stereotypes from an early age.

At 6-foot-1, I was considered too short to be a basketball player. I would make up for it with my speed and my unshakeable state of mind.

No NBA team had ever entrusted a European point guard with the keys to their game. I would only need two training sessions to convince Coach Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs staff to recruit me.

I would spend 18 years in Texas and would become the Spurs leader. How difficult is it to combine playing both for the NBA and my countrys national team? I worked hard to do both and come back over and over despite my failures. I would rally everyone and win the 2013 European basketball championship.

I owe everything to basketball. It was my favorite pastime and my greatest passion. It became my profession, and I became part of its historymaybe even the history of sports in general. Thanks to basketball, Im now a businessman. Today I split my time between both of my countriesFrance and the United States.

I never could have imagined such a destiny. Not even in my wildest dreams, in my childhood bedroom in Normandy that was plastered with Michael Jordan posters. He was my idol and my inspiration, not only as a player, but also as a businessman. I have obviously worked very hard to give myself this dream life, which I want to share with you.

If youre holding this book, that means youre curious about me as a person and as a basketball player. In the following pages, Im going to tell you my life story as simply as possible, in my words and with sincerity, that David Loriot, journalist for Lquipe , patiently collected and drafted. My dear reader, I will even sometimes speak to you informally, because thats how I express myselfdirectly and without pretense.

However, before telling you about myself, I would like to introduce you to my universe. It consists of my loved ones, who have been helping and accompanying me for such a long time, and without whom I certainly would not be here today to tell you my story.

Tony Parker Senior, My Father

I inherited his character and passion. Originally from Chicago, my father came to Europe in the 1980s to make a career. He played in the Netherlands, Belgium, and then in Francenotably in Denain, Dieppe, and Rouen. He instilled in me the winners mentality that gave me my strength. In his approach and his way of looking at sports, he was essential to my education. He helped me to stay focused, to never let go, and to always be positive. Today he lives in Chicago, and we talk regularly.

Pamela Firestone, My Mother

My mother was a model when she met my father. Then she became a naturopath. She would make her famous grass juice every morning. With my mom it was all health, how to eat well, and how to rest and optimize my body. She was also a very curious person. I owe my interests and varied pursuits to my mom, from music to business. Today she lives in San Antonio because she didnt want to be far from us.

TJ Parker, My Younger Brother

I have a very strong relationship with my two younger brothers.