Site created and updated by MistiLynn <>< |
Quotes by or about Tony Parker
4/10/05 Article: "We're going to try to get first place (overall) even if we're shorthanded," Parker said. "We're going to fight until the end and see what happens. We're not giving up."
"Tony was just stupendous as a leader," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He played all those minutes, and came in and ran the show very well. He played a great game. Both teams really showed a lot of character. Both played aggressively at both ends. Where they got the energy to keep going out there, I have no idea."
"(Davis) is a great player, great point guard and he gets everybody involved," Parker said. "It was a great matchup tonight, I had a lot of fun competing against him. To come here and win after two overtimes with the Clippers, shorthanded, showed a lot character. We didn't want to give up. We just tried to stay close and win the game."
1/6/05 Article: The San Antonio Spurs own the NBA's best record at 38-10, but it's guard Tony Parker, 22, heating up extra interest in the team with his sizzling relationship with Eva Longoria, the Latina 29-year-old diva from the hit TV series "Desperate Housewives." But on the court, Parker, who was born in Belgium and raised in France, appears unfazed, averaging 15.8 points and 6.2 assists.
Seattle Times: So, are the rumors true?
Tony Parker: Oh, it's true, but I'm not going to talk about it forever. Basketball is the main thing.
ST: Guess you're used to this kind of attention coming from your native France, where you were you led the country to a European Championship in 2001, right?
TP: Well, I don't care. People, you know, they like to talk because she's a celebrity. But I don't care. My priority is try to win a championship with the Spurs. Off the court I just let them say whatever they want. I'm used to it a little bit. When I go back to France it's crazy. Everywhere I go it's like a lot of people, paparazzi. So, you just stay with your bodyguard and go into private restaurants and stuff like that.
ST: Don't forget the dark glasses with the hat pulled over your head.
TP: Exactly, like everybody (laughs).
ST: Under Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, your team is off to its best start in franchise history.
TP: I think because we've got a lot of guys who played three-four years together, that's how we got a better start. Me, Manu (Ginobili), Tim (Duncan), Malik (Rose), Bruce (Bowen) — we're used to playing with each other. It's normal that we're going to have a better start. I know the Spurs used to start slow, but no, our team, you know, we know what Pop wants, so it makes it a little bit better. But we still have room for improvement.
ST: Gotta ask about former Sonic Brent Barry; how is he fitting in?
TP: He started slow trying to learn how we play. Our defense is very different from most of the teams in the NBA and our offense, too. The last month he's really picked it up and played a lot better, and he's shooting with a lot more confidence now.
ST: He's a character, too, right?
TP: Oh, definitely, definitely. Everybody, you know, he's got a joke for everything. He's very good to have around in the locker room.
ST: What jokes has he played on you?
TP: With me he's pretty calm. At the beginning of the season I always make a speech to present the team and I got him pretty good.
ST: How did you get him?
TP: He was shooting terrible in the preseason, he was maybe 3 for 40. And I say that in front of everybody, I say, "Great job, Pop, bringing us a shooter who's red hot! Red hot! Three for 40!" I was just messing with him. I know he's got something for me. It's going to come soon.
1/7/05 Article: "They're both good basketball players," Popovich said of playing Beno Udrih alongside Tony Parker. "And sometimes it's best to have the guys playing the best basketball on the court and just figure it out from there. The times we've had them on the court together they've played very well and seemed to enjoy it."
Because Pacers point guard Jamaal Tinsley was able to use his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame to successfully post up Parker, Popovich briefly had Parker chase Reggie Miller off screens. After Parker failed to get to Miller before he drilled a 3-pointer, Popovich screamed, "In case you didn't know, Tony, that's Reggie Miller!"
12/19/04 Article: When asked for an explanation for the slow start, Spurs point guard Tony Parker said: "I don't know. Maybe too much excitement from Christmas."
12/13/04 Article: "I tried to do a crossover and I hurt my left groin," Parker said. "I think I go too fast sometimes, you know, I have to slow down sometimes. It's kind of sore today so Pop decided I am not practicing and I am not practicing tomorrow either. We'll see and it will be a game time decision."
"I don't think I will run point guard. We have Beno Udrih, Mike Wilks and the third option is Brent Barry," Ginobili said. "So I guess that if Tony is not playing Brent will see more minutes at point." When commenting on playing point last year, Ginobili said, that's why he won't be playing that position again.
05/15/04 Article: The San Antonio Spurs will not repeat. Defeated by Los Angeles (88-76), Tony Parker’s teammates lost the series 4-2.
Tony, the playoffs are unfortunately over following the Spurs ’loss against LA 88-76. You must all be disappointed…
It hurts. Frankly, it hurts terribly. I have just lived one of the biggest loss of my career. It will be difficult to digest that moment. It is extremely hard to accept. I am disappointed.
Once again, the shooting percentage was a mere 30%. This was the key to the series?
Yes. It is frustrating because Los Angeles did not do anything particular with their defense to stop us. We have had numerous open shots from 2 and 3 points range and they would not go in even though these were uncontested. It is weird because we were successful in our first two games. What happened after that remains a mystery I do not understand.
You can have some regrets; despite a bad shooting form, you have had a few occasions to win but could not seize them.
We stayed in the games with our defense because we relied on its success. One cannot solely win with defense. To win, you also have to score, which we could not do.
Safe to say you missed your game (9 points, 4/18).
I cannot say the contrary. (Tony seems to be looking for words). I dribbled on my knees, my shoots often could not find their target. It was not my evening.
Following two very good games (20 and 30 points), you somehow could not be a factor on the following games of this series. What are your views on your personal performances against the Lakers ?
I started well, but my accuracy let me down. I really don’t know where my shooting went. I do not know and do not understand. I will think about this all summer long. The thinking period will be long. Even though I am disappointed, this failure gives me the will to work hard this summer to come back even stronger for next season. I will work on my shot to improve it.
It is a dead stop for the team, which we did not expect after such a strong start to the playoffs…
Actually (the game ended less than an hour ago), I think everyone is in a state of shock. We were on a 17 games winning streak, and then from one day to the next, nothing. We were playing extremely well so that we never thought we could loose like this. I accept it that I shot very badly. What is more incredible is that the entire team was plagued by the same clumsiness. It is rather bizarre.
Turkoglu, Nesterovic and Horry, 3 players who arrived in San Antonio at the beginning of the season, did not bring much during this series. Can we talk about a failure in the recruiting process?
I think it is too early to judge anyone because it was their first year with the Spurs. We will have do so on a longer basis. We can nurture some regrets, but as it is the first year we played together, we will have to take it into consideration. We must not forget that in front of us were the Lakers, a very good team. Talking about them, I do not see anyone beating them.
Do the Spurs 2003-2004 have a future together of can the nucleus explode as early as this summer?
I do not know, you must ask the same question to coach Popovich. He will decide, but I trust his judgment and have full confidence in him. He has always made the best choices. I know this team can will a title…
02/28/04 Article: On the game - “Pop asked us to be very aggressive with the ball and try to push the ball and try to run. We just tried to run with them and tried to get some easy buckets. Malik and Rasho did a good job.”
On Kevin Willis - “Everybody picked up their game, especially Kevin Willis. He played great tonight.”
01/24/04 Article: On the game - “(Darrell Armstrong) was on fire. It seems like a lot of point guards have been playing that way lately. It hurts to have been up 15 and not to win. We missed some shots at the end. Give them credit, they hit some big shots.”
On the road ahead - “We have a pretty tough schedule coming up. We have to stay strong mentally and must focus on getting better.”
01/23/04 Article: On his last shot - “He called a play, a kind of rub. They tried to double team so I kept the ball and let the clock go down and I was confidant to take that shot and make it. They doubled Timmy every time and we had some pretty good wide open shots and some pretty good penetration so we just tried to get something going.”
01/21/04 Article: On the game - “It was a pretty good match up for me tonight against Jason Kidd. He’s always good motivation. I had to run the team tonight. We didn’t play well the last couple games, with the loss in Detroit, but my goal was just to help the team play well and try to get the win. That was important for me tonight. It was a good win for us mentally.”
On how he has been motivated - “Pop just got after me to get me going and it works. That’s how our relationship is and since my rookie year has been pushing me and that’s how we do it.”
01/09/04 Article: “We played some pretty good defense tonight. We stopped Baron Davis. Bruce (Bowen) did a good job on him. We had some shots from the outside. I missed a lot of wide open shots. Hedo (Turkolu) and Ron mercer hit some big shots for us.”
2003: A poem by Ren, a fan
I stared out the window as though in a trance,
I imagined how you looked in a basketball stance.
I finally wondered, if someday we would meet,
"How silly!" I said, as I got up to my feet.
"Game on!" my dad called from just outside my room,
I grabbed the remote yelling, "I'll eat breakfast soon!"
I turned on the t.v., just in time when you shoot,
A three-point field goal slid down through the hoop.
Position as a point-guard you're doing so good,
You make cool shots, to keep the team in good mood.
A coach in court you really have to be,
You have to be alert, so ready teammates you'll see.
How much tougher can a position get?
The game your coach planned, in the court you set.
You have to scan for teammates, those ready to shoot,
And make sure that the game won't start in the wrong foot.
You stood out among the rest,
A very young rookie, doing his best.
Running, dribbling, shooting and passing,
Each move were so very inspiring.
Each play seemed so carefully planned,
Opponents say, "Look out, rookie, better know where you stand!"
But very soon they were gawking at your remarkable plays,
Then the crowd roared and cheered at your amazing display.
I watched your last shot, under two seconds to go,
A lay-up above Shaq's head, will it go in? Nobody one knows.
I reached for my pillow and held my breath back,
The lay-up went in, you won the game, and that's a fact.
I want to see your plays, and your handling so smooth,
You shoot some hoops and do cool basketball moves.
You jump quite a height,
And your smile, ugh! Grabs my sight!
When I saw you first played, I disliked you,
I despised you, I hated you, what I'm saying is true!
Because you were playing against Lakers, so strong,
But after a few shots you made, I knew I was wrong!
I saw you make a beautiful lay-up shot,
"Not much, simple," I frowned as I thought.
You made a jump shot, never made me smile,
But after a flawless three-point, made me stop and think a while.
I jumped to my feet, and shook my dad's arm,
"Who's that? Who's that?" I shouted in alarm.
"That's Tony Parker!" my dad answered,
"He's no. 9," I silently wondered.
Let me tell you a little secret I keep to myself,
It's about a story I write, please don't tell!
I wrote this story before the season started,
I didn't know you then, please believe it!
It's about Raphael Parker, a player no. 9,
A high school student, at seventeen so fine.
He's a wonderful point-guard, a small forward too,
A concentrated player standing at 6"2'.
A new season comes and many more new players,
Another perimeter player comes in for the Spurs.
Emanuel Ginobili, from Argentina, he comes,
To play along side you, to get some new things done.
Side by side you make the backcourt strong,
Two active young guards, so well they get along.
Tony, "The Flash Of Lightning" going steady,
Manu, so attentive, energetic and ready.
I love your combination plays, you make it look so easy,
You pass the ball to each other, making the opponent look lazy.
You work so well with each other, you'll help San Antonio achieve,
The award they've been wanting, the one they're hungry to receive.
Both so young yet so full of unmistakable pure talent,
Both want to soar, but not wanting to stay silent.
Sinking toughs shots, you've made them your signature moves,
Both can't be stopped once to score difficult shots they might choose.
William Anthony Parker, so young at twenty-one years old,
Lot's of room to improve, so many to discover, huge talents to unfold.
The youngest starting point-guard in the NBA league as of now,
Working so hard to be the best, forcing competitors to miserably go down.
They keep comparing you to Jason Kidd, saying, in S.A. he'll take your place,
Are they so sure that he can manage your fast and furious pace?
Just let him try I doubt that he can,
Coz you're the best and I'll forever be your no. 1 fan!
Tony Parker, a potential star, so young yet so matured,
A point-guard with nifty moves, a bright future he's assured.
He comes through for his team whenever they need him,
In the starting line-up he does his job, he's amazing just watch him!
12/31/03 Article: Tony on his dunk - “Just make sure you rewind it again and again because it’s not going to happen often. It’s not every day I do that. My legs were feeling good and Mario (Elie) before the game was saying I couldn’t dunk so I promised him tonight I would do it. I was happy I got the chance to do it.
On the Wizards defense - “It’s pretty good. I think everyone is starting to understand how we play defense now. We are doing a great job and with Timmy (Duncan) blocking shots and forcing them out to the perimiter. We have Bruce (Bowen) and it helps with him playing great defense on the best scorer every time. We are just clicking. I think we have confidence in each other.”
On Manu’s absence - “It still hurts with Manu not out there but guys like Ron Mercer and Hedo Turkoglu have stepped up. We hope we can hold on until Manu comes back. The guys are doing a great job so far; Mercer is shooting the ball really well and they are doing a great job.”
12/31/03 Article: “It was a tough one today,” said a winded Tony Parker. “Pop tried to kill us -- running every time. He likes this practice.”
“We need to bring the same focus every game,” explained Parker. “Every time out we can’t just be satisfied. We have 13 wins but we need to play each game the same way. Stay focused.” So what are Parker’s big plans for the holiday? “I am going to sleep now. Pop’s crazy.”
12/27/03 Article: "I thought Tony Parker was the one guy who turned the momentum," Magic coach Johnny Davis said. "He did such a great job of penetrating our defense and then either scoring or finding people."
Parker said he was just taking what Orlando was giving him. "They were playing a lot of zone and you have to attack it," he said.
09/30/03 Article: "We're going to have to find a way to call the plays," Parker said of the new international flavor of the Spurs team. "Maybe we have to use signs. If we speak English, everybody is going to be, 'Huh? What?' I think we should all speak French. Everybody needs to start practicing it anyway because we're going over there."
09/16/03 Article: "A lot of players had no motivation," said Parker, following the loss to Italy. "You have no motivation, you can't win."
"I felt really bad for them," said Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer, who attended the bronze-medal game. "Everybody in France was expecting to qualify. There is a lot of pressure on him as the captain and coming from the Spurs. It's really difficult for him and I feel for him. He'll bounce back. He'll be OK. France is so young, that they will develop and learn from this."
But, general manager R.C. Buford was asked, is Parker ready to be a leader?
"I don't know," he said. "He's ready for it on this level. He is obviously the heart of soul of France's team and it is one of the best teams here. He is probably a little reluctant to take that role on an established team (Spurs). But now, the pieces have changed quite a bit and he's got to be ready to start stepping toward that."
"There is no problem," Parker said. "It's not a big deal as everyone thinks. I understand their point and I got my point, too. But now it's over and I'll be ready for next season. I had a (good past) with 'Pop.' I don't think it's going to affect our relationship," Parker said of the disagreement about wooing Jason Kidd this summer. "Overall, I think we'll be better because we have better options now."
09/12/03 Article: "It was great getting an award from Larry Bird," said France and San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, who received a player of the game award from Bird after France's win. "It's not every day you see Larry Bird."
09/11/03 Article:"I was expecting a difficult match, and seeing France in the semis is one part of the contract completed," said Tony Parker. "We want a medal of course but the most important thing is to go to the Olympics next year."
09/02/03 Article: "We have no excuse, but we'll have to bounce back and take this defeat positively." Tony Parker after the he and his team from France lost to Sweden 89 to 84. Tony scored 32 points, the most of all players.
08/26/03 Article: "My goal with (the French team) is to win some championships," Parker said. "I'm very proud to play for my country, it's great.
"Playing without someone like (Tim) Duncan is not a problem because we've got good guys here too," said Parker.
"Now I won't return to the Spurs in poor shape because I kept playing."
"There are many good European teams because European basketball is very good," Parker said. "It will be very hard to win the championship."
08/19/03 Article: "I'm going to totally ignore him," coach Popovich jokingly said about running into Tony at European Championships in September.
"It's not about being angry at Tony, or 'I'm going to make him really pay the price,' or any of that silly stuff," Popovich said. "... It'll be another lesson in his maturation process. I'm almost, in a philosophical sense, happy to have this happen. He's going to learn a big lesson from it. But we've had too much wine and bread together to be (at odds). We'll always be good."
08/6/03 Article: "We talked a lot just about what it takes to be successful as a point guard," Porter said, "what you need to demand of your other teammates, how you go about doing that without trying to embarrass them. Of course they (Marbury and Parker) have natural gifts of talent, and I didn't help with that."
08/2/03 Article: "I honestly didn't think Tony would be this good in the NBA," Steven Johnson said. "I didn't think he would dominate it like he has. He averaged about 12 points and four assists a game when he played for a team in Paris. He just got in the right situation with Tim Duncan and David Robinson. I'm still surprised he's had the success he's had this early in his NBA career."
07/26/03 Article: "The objective of the French team is the title," said Parker, who refuses to be considered a star despite his fame in the United States. "We have the talent and the players to win it. It is true that there are very dangerous sides like Germany, Spain and Yugoslavia, but we do have a crazy team. Guys like Boris Diaw and Ronny Turiaf were with me when we were playing in juniors and won the European title. This is a great generation of players, added up with the experienced ones like Alain Digbeu, Laurent Foirest, and Moustapha Sonko, not to mention Tariq Abdul Wahad and Jerome Moiso who also play in the NBA. As far I am concerned I feel like a leader. I will try to lead the game and do a great job with everyone."
Parker went on: "Since I started playing basketball I have always been under pressure. I was very soon called `the prodigy'. Nothing is more beautiful for me than winning the NBA title, but this does not mean that being European champion is not important for me."
07/17/03 Article: "They (the Spurs) won't be able to sag off anybody any more," Magic Johnson said. "They'll have to guard us straight up instead of doubling up on Shaq and Kobe. And on the other end, and this is really important, we got somebody (Payton) who can guard Tony Parker. We can keep him out of the lane. Gary has this great defensive ego. He can't stand it when somebody scores off him."
07/17/03 Article: "He was fine with everything, and then he changed his tune. I thought it made him look a little bit weaker than he was during the whole season," Popovich said Thursday. "So I was very disappointed in that, and I expressed that to him."
"I think he'll learn from it. If he is who I think he is, he's probably embarrassed right now that he did that, and he probably should be angry at whoever talked him into that because I think it hurt him," Popovich said. "In the end, if we handle this right, he'll be stronger for this and much, much wiser."
07/16/03 Article: Boris Diaw: "Yeah, I played with [Tony Parker] for one year. I also played with Jerome Moiso. We played together. He was a fantastic teammate and we're friends. He played very well, as everyone knows."
Q: Do you think you will be good as Tony Parker in his first year in the league?
Boris Diaw: "I don't know. I think he adapted to the NBA style very quickly. It's a very difficult thing. It's very different here than Europe. I'll just take my time and see how it goes. I'd like to help my team as much as Tony has."
07/16/03 Article: "Here's the reality," said Gordon Chiesa, an assistant coach who has worked with Lopez. "There is Tony Parker of the beloved San Antonio Spurs -- and I say that with all kidding aside, because they do a great job -- and the question is 'Can we get (Lopez) ready to play Tony Parker and play him to a standstill?' That's the question. And that's the reality."
07/11/03 Article: "I know I'm the best point guard for this team," Parker said by phone. "I can lead this team. I know deep down in my heart I can. I'm only 21, but I'm going to get better."
"I love Pop," Parker said. "He's like a second father to me. Pop gave me my chance to start and everything. That's why I was so diplomatic. That's why I had a hard time trying to be clear with him. I was young and a little bit scared talking. I didn't want to cause problems. I didn't want to say nothing during the season and distract the team because we were trying to win a championship. But I always thought if we won the championship, we wouldn't get Jason. I didn't want to go public, but I was tired of other people talking for me."
"I've talked to Tony many times about what we wanted to do," Popovich said. "Every single time he's been exactly consistent with his comments: 'I would love to play with Jason. I could learn from him. It would be great.' Some of those opinions changed when Jason visited. Obviously, somebody has decided there should be a different agenda and Tony has bought into it. I can only talk to him about it so much. He says one thing then his opinion changes after he talks to other people. When that happens, I have to let it go and stay away and let him figure it out himself and assess the situation. I think in the long run he will figure out why we're doing this. It's not because we think any less of Tony. I love Tony to death. I have faith in him. I don't blame him for this. I blame the people around him, some of whom think they have his best interest in mind and some of whom care only about their own interest."
"I have nothing against Jason," Parker said. "I like Jason. But my agent said almost all the other teams in the league are calling him, asking, 'What's wrong with Tony? Why don't they think he can lead the team?' They think something is wrong with me because the Spurs want Jason. The Spurs want the best of both worlds. The problem is I have to think about my career, too. I don't want to play shooting guard. I've played point guard since I was small. I love having the ball in my hands. I love being the leader."
Tim Duncan told Parker he wants Kidd because he would improve the team. "But he also wants me, too," Parker said. "He said it's a personal decision if I want to play Jason."
"Tony is young and impressionable," Popovich said. "He's going to look at this differently than (Lakers guard) Derek Fisher looks at Gary Payton coming in or how David Robinson looked at Tim Duncan coming in. I can't expect Tony to be like them. He's going to be more easily influenced by other people."
"Pop and (general manager R.C. Buford) are doing what they think is best for the organization — I believe that," Malik Rose said. "But it's a fine line you have to walk when you're dealing with the fragile emotions of a 21-year-old. It's really hard for Tony. He feels like he got the job done being the starter here and they're going out and recruiting over his position. That's a frustrating feeling — I can sympathize with him. But what I try to tell Tony is this is a business and they're trying to do what's best for the team. You have to do what's best for Tony."
"I love the fans," Parker said. "I love the owners and my coaches and teammates. I want to stay here, but I want to be a point guard. I guess I'll just have to look at my options."
"Tony has done very well against the Lakers and very well against Gary Payton when he was in Seattle," Rose said. "But when you team Gary Payton up with the Lakers and Kobe Bryant against Shaq, you need a certain person who can come in and put more pressure on (Payton). Tony did those things. But I guess what Pop and R.C. are looking at is, when you have a chance to get the best point guard in the league in his prime, you have to do it. Especially for Timmy. Timmy is in his prime. Jason is in his prime. If you can match them up, that's going to make us one hell of a team — even if Tony may have to swallow a big pill. That's going to be tough for him. It takes a huge amount of responsibility and a huge amount of maturity. All I can say is that if anyone is up to that task, it's Tony."
07/04/03 Article: "We can play together," Parker said of Jason Kidd. "People think I would have a problem with that. I don't mind playing with him. Put me at (shooting guard) and we'll be fine."
"I think we can get Jason and a big man this year," Parker said. "That's what I think is going to happen."
"It's a great opportunity for us to meet kids coming from so many different European countries," Parker said of coaching in Basketball Without Borders in Italy. "I believe that when you become a NBA player, you must give a part of your time for young players like all these kids around us right now. I really think that we can help them to become better and make them realize that everything is possible if you work hard and respect the rules."
"There is definitely more respect for international players now," Parker said. "All everybody wants to talk about is the NBA championship."
07/02/03 Article: Tony Parker: "Basketball Without Borders is a great opportunity for us to meet kids coming from so many different European countries. I believe that when you become a NBA player, you must give a part of your time for young players like all these kids around us right now. I really think that we can help them to become better and make them realize that everything is possible if you work hard and respect the rules."
06/15/03 Article: General Manager R.C. Buford: "Very seldom do we have to go double-team Tony's man. That was my concern coming in. [Defense] had never been a priority for him and he's also probably not the strongest player at that position. The thing that surprises me, for two years we've always been concerned about him getting abused defensively but, with the exception of a few games against Steph [Marbury in the first-round series against Phoenix], which is a tough matchup for him, he does a pretty good job of staying in front of people like Stevie Francis and most of the really good point guards in the league."
06/14/03 Article: Robinson said: "Tony has to do a better job of staying involved in the game and picking and choosing his moments, and I don't think Tony did a very good job of that tonight."
Parker, when asked about the Robinson's critique, said he didn't know what Robinson had said. "And I don't care," he added. "I'm the youngest guy on the team and every time we lose it's my fault, but when we win, they put me in there with Timmy. It's been like that since I'm here. I'm used to it."
06/13/03 Article: Gregg Popovich when asked what he said to Tony when he took him out of the game in the 3rd quarter: "We're going to make a book of Popovich/Parker speeches that I'm going to give to him and read over the summertime. Lord only knows what the hell I told him. I don't know, play better, we need you, all of that trade coach stuff. He came back in, I thought he was a little bit more aggressive in the second half, and helped us. But Speedy, he's gotten us through while Tony's been deciding how aggressive he was going to be or how hard he was going to play. Speedy's been great in filling that gap for us.
Pop's response when asked what he expects to get from Tony night-to-night: "Each game is new. Tony Parker is my guy. I mean, I've been on him from day one, since he got here two years ago, trying to mature quickly. And it's tough for him sometimes. He's 21 years old, and thank goodness he has a tough constitution because I am on him constantly. I think it has helped him grow much more quickly than he would have than if we had just pampered him for two years."
Tim Duncan on Tony's play: "It's just a game-by-game thing. I thought he did a pretty good job tonight. He didn't score the 20-something points that he's been scoring. Those guys really keyed in on him. They are not letting him get in the middle. They are not letting him get his floater in the middle and you make adjustments. I thought he did a very good job of making adjustments. A couple of times he got into the middle and tried to force his floaters instead of passing to the corners or dropping it off. Other than that, I thought he's doing a very good job. They are toughening the defense up on him. It's about making adjustments and he'll be better in the next game."
David Robinson on what he said to Tony in the game: "I just told him, "Hey, you’re the young guy. I need some passion and fire." He hit some of the biggest shots of the game at the end of that third quarter. I want him jumping up and down, fired up. I don’t care if you miss shots, make turnovers, as long as you show that energy. That’s what we need from our young guys."
06/11/03 Article: Q: What happened tonight? Parker: We were just missing shots. The ball just didn’t want to go tonight. I think we shot under 30 percent, and it’s pretty hard to win a ballgame when you shoot like that. We didn’t play well. We didn’t compete for 48 minutes. We missed a lot of layups. We just have to come back strong next game. Hopefully, we’ll shoot the ball a little better.
Q: Was it hard to keep your composure with such a ragged game? Parker: Yeah, but when you’re in the heat of the battle, you just have to fight through it. We can’t let a game like this affect us. We have to come back strong the next game.
Q: What happened on the last play? Parker: I thought we executed great. It was a good play. Manu was wide open, made a great pump fake, great shot, you can’t ask for more. It was just great execution.
Q: Did you think there was goaltending on that last play? Parker: I don’t know. It’s kind of hard.
Q: Coach Popovich went with Speedy Claxton for an extended period tonight. Did you want to get back in there and play through your struggles? Parker: That’s coach’s decision. You can’t argue with that. I’m not going to argue with a coach’s decision.
Q: Are there any moral victories, being that you guys played bad but still had a chance? Parker: We’re still going to fight. Even though we played terrible, shot the ball terrible, we still had a chance.
Q: Were you expecting Jason Kidd to try to back you down a lot more like he did tonight? Parker: Not really. The first three games he’s done that. In Game 2, he posted up a lot and scored a lot of points. It didn’t surprise me at all.
06/09/03 Article: Q:Did you ever dream of the possibility of playing the NBA Finals in your second year in the league?
Tony Parker: That's impossible. I could have never dreamt of this. I would have never believed it, considering there are players in my team that have played 19 years in this league and have never been in the Finals. So this is great. I think it's a blessing for me.
Q: Everybody is talking about your matchup with Jason Kidd. What's the difference between playing against Kidd and the rest of the point guards in the NBA?
TP: Playing against Kidd is really tough because he can do a lot of different things. He can rebound, pass the ball, score, push the ball on the break or post you up thanks to his size. He does it all and does it well. There is a big difference because of that -- because he can do anything his team needs him to do.
Q: And what's the difference between playing the point in Europe and in the NBA? It looks like you've adjusted easily in just a couple of years.
Q: How difficult has the transition been for you?
TP: I've been lucky because I play in a team where there are a lot of veterans and I fit in well with them. Those guys know a lof about the game, where to be and what to do. I'm just a piece of the puzzle that supports the superstars -- an addition that helps the team.
Q: Was it hard to get the respect of those veterans?
TP: Sure it was. It's hard at the beginning. Especially getting the respect from Timmy, because it's not very common for a European guard to come here and adjust quickly. But it is all about working hard and playing hard so that you can earn the respect of everybody day-to-day.
06/08/03 Article: Gregg Popovich: "Tony's a special young man. I mean, to be thrown in this kind of a situation as young as he is, and to try to run the club, know all the players, some of whom or most of whom he's never played with, to handle that, I think is special. Once in a while, he's going to maybe go over the line and shoot a shot that's a little errant or he might turn it over or make a decision, but even the best of players do those sorts of things. I'm really impressed with what he can do at this young age. He's really been great and he was good for us tonight, obviously."
Q: That high screen is the most fundamental play in basketball. What is it about the way that you guys run it that gives everybody else so much trouble? Duncan: "Tony Parker. The kid is good at that thing. With his speed and when he gets rolling a little bit, he can shoot the ball a little bit. His confidence rises. And if you go over the top of it, he's going to turn that corner and get that big fellow on his heels. He's gotten better and better over the years and that's one of his favorite plays. We love to run it, we get a piece of that guy and let him loose."
Q: Can you talk about Tony's maturity. There's been so much talk about Jason Kidd and free agency and your relationship with Jason. Have you had a talk with Tony about it or is he handling it in his usual mature fashion? Duncan: "He's been great about it. We haven't talked about it. It's not even an issue between us. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. I'm very comfortable with Tony and I love what he's doing, obviously. It's never been an issue between us."
Q: Tony Parker talk about the way you've handled the situation, three games into the NBA Finals and having another big game tonight. Parker: "I try to not put too much pressure on myself. I think about my matchup against Jason Kidd, the main thing is, it's the Spurs against the New Jersey Nets and just try to run my team and try to be aggressive. Coach Pop wants me to be aggressive and that's what I'm trying to do."
Q: Talk about you and Manu, international guys, young guys, come in here and make most of the crucial plays of the game. Parker: "Well, Manu, he's a very good player. All season long he made some big shots. In Europe he played some big games, won the Euro League and some MVPs, so the NBA Finals is the same thing for him, a lot of pressure, a lot of attention, all of the media so I don't think it's going to affect him. For me, it doesn't affect me at all. I'm still concentrating on the game."
Q: What has Pop told you and talked to you about this season, especially going into the Finals, about free agency and how to handle that uncertainty? Parker: "Well, he never talked to me, not much about free agency. A lot of things can happen in the summer. I read everything he said in the newspaper, and he just told me that I was mature and he needed to talk to me. He didn't tell me nothing."
Q: He's not giving you any assurances? Parker: "No, not at all. You know, the NBA is a business and I can't let that affect me. I still have to play my game and the only thing I control is to try to make my team win. I can't control what the Spurs are going to do this summer if they are going to take Jason Kidd or if I'm going to play with them."
Q: Timmy led you guys in assists, tonight they double and triple teamed him and obviously he found a way to help you win. How do you stop him? Parker: "He did that all in the Playoffs. He's our quarterback. They can't stop him so they try to double and triple team him. He's got a lot of confidence in me and Jack and Manu, so we have to be ready to knock those shots, those big shots. Timmy, he's a great player, he's our MVP and he's very smart. He knows when to shoot the ball and when to pass it."
Q: The high screens is one of most fundamental and oldest plays in basketball. What is the way that you run it that gives all of these other teams fits? Parker: "I don't know. I just try to read how they are going to play me, because they are going to stay on Timmy, because Timmy is very dangerous. Obviously, he can hit the outside shot and that can hurt you if he rolls to the basket. I try to play out of it, that's it."
Q: You said you try not to get caught up with the Kidd matchup, but do you see it as whoever gets the better of the matchup between you two, that team is going to win the game? Parker: "Not really because you've got some other matchups that are key, too. Kenyon against Tim, our bench against their bench. It's a team, team basketball, and you can't say that our matchup is going to win the series."
Q: Did Pop tell you guys anything right before the game? What did he want you to do? Parker: "He didn't say nothing special. Just to play our game, and that we worked hard to be there all season long, and just to be aggressive. He didn't say nothing special."
Q: You're obviously quicker than Jason. Is it a combination of that, and also the fact that they are trying to dig back on Tim that's giving you a little more space to operate? Parker: "It's definitely helping to have Tim Duncan on my team. It helps definitely because he draws so much attention. It helps me to try to penetrate and get some easy baskets, some open shots. It's like Kobe with Shaq, or Magic with Jabbar; it helps."
Q: Were you looking at the score wondering if it was an NBA game, and why were you so you successful if everyone else was struggling in the first half? Parker: "It was like a European game. Everyone was struggling. It was all defense. In the second half, you know, everybody made a couple shots and I think that we made a pretty good run in the fourth quarter and got a hold on our lead."
Q: Jason has shot poorly in two of the three games. What are you doing that's making him shoot poorly? Parker: "I don't know. I don't know. Just try to play aggressive defense and try to pressure him, try to get inside. That's it."
Q: How do you feel about playing the entire second half? Parker: "I'm happy. If I'm on the court, I'm happy. They didn't change nothing at all. Pop played me a lot of the second half against Dallas, against the Lakers. It doesn't bother me at all."
06/06/03 Article:: Q: How do you explain the overall team sloppiness tonight, do you think it was the wrong mindset coming in or was it their adjustments that through you off? Parker: "I don't know. We're professional and we need to play better, especially in the beginning. Coach talked to us this morning in practice, and in the fourth quarter, we started playing in the fourth quarter when we was down ten."
Q: Was it frustrating putting together those runs? Parker: "Definitely. You know, when we're down and we try to make runs and try to come back on New Jersey, you know, they are a solid team and when they make some big baskets, some guys get down the clock, two seconds left and so those shots hurt. If you leave New Jersey to hang around, they can hurt us and we lost the game."
Q: What happened on the last play, you were down by 2 and the play before that you took it to the rim and you scored the basket and then Stephen Jackson takes the 3. Was it something Popovich wanted? Parker: "He just asked me to attack. Stephen Jackson just scored a 3 just before, so Jason tried to stall the ball so I was coming and I saw Stephen Jackson wide open and he just made one just before so I thought it was a good pass and it was wide open and we went for the win."
Q: What did Pop say this morning about fear and what was he talking about? Parker: "He was a little bit scared that we don't respect New Jersey. He said that they are going to come out very strong and Jason, they are going to go after me, Kenyon Martin, everybody. He was right, in the beginning of the game, we were not ready."
Q: What did Pop tell you at halftime, the team? Parker: "What did he say at halftime? He was mad. He was mad at us, screaming, just to get more aggressive. In the first game he did the same thing, we played poorly in the first half and then we wake up until the second half and it's not going to always work like that. New Jersey played very good in the second half."
Q: How is it going with playing against Jason? I noticed at one point in the game you fouled him and he turned around and said something and you looked at him and wondered what he said to you. Is he talking to you during the game? Parker: "It was a hard foul, that's it. It's San Antonio Spurs against New Jersey Nets, that's the main thing; it's not just Tony Parker against Jason Kidd, it's the San Antonio Spurs against the New Jersey Nets."
Q: Standing on the sidelines a little bit, what's going through your mind as the other guys are going to the free throw line and you missed a few down the stretch? Parker: "I don't know, it's just like I think we wasted a game. We did that a lot in the playoffs, against Phoenix, against the Lakers, against Dallas. Every time we lose a game it's because of free throws and tonight we missed some key free throws at the end of the game."
06/06/03 Article: When asked if he felt he was auditioning for a gig next season, Parker said "Not really. I play all season long, try to do my best. We had the best record in the league, and now we're in the NBA Finals. I don't think I need to prove anything to the Spurs. It's their decision, to keep me or not. I don't think I have to prove something."
06/04/03 Article: Q: Can you talk a little bit about your third quarter, in the Western Conference Finals, you had a big third quarter in several of the games. Did you have jitters in the first half, or did you get comfortable and in the third quarter you had to get into your aggressive mode? Parker: "Just in the first half, I tried to give confidence to everybody. Then in the third quarter tried to be more aggressive and go for my shot more. In the first quarter, tried to give people some wide open shots."
Q: With all of the talk there's been about your match-up with you and Jason, did that put more pressure on you? Is that why you seemed more tentative early? Parker: "A little bit. The pressure is always there, especially when you're trying to win the Championship. Matching up against Jason Kidd is very exciting playing against the best point guard in the League. Makes me want to do more and try to do my best."
Q: Jason had another poor shooting night, what do you guys do against them defensively to cause that? Parker: "Well, we don't do nothing special. It was just a bad night for him. He missed a lot of wide open shots. I know he's going to come back strong in the next game and he's going to make a lot of shots."
06/03/03 Article: "It's a dream to play in the NBA Finals," Parker, 21, said. "Three years ago I was waking up at 3 a.m. to watch the finals, and now I'm playing in them."
"They were the best team in the NBA, so everybody talks about Tim [Duncan], and they should," Kidd said. "But Tony Parker is the key. When he plays well, they play well."
06/03/03 Article: Jason Kidd about the upcoming match-up with Parker, "Tony’s playing at a high level. He’s young but he plays as an older player physically and mentally and I’m going to have my hands full."
06/02/03 Article: Parker and Jason Kidd had a commercial shoot together. "I'm the rookie, he's the vet, so I'm the one flying three hours," Parker said, smiling. "We played little bit, nothing serious."
"I can't control that," Parker said of the rumors of San Antonio acquiring Kidd. "The N.B.A. is a big business; only thing I can do is help my team."
"Yeah, it'll be a little ironic," Kidd said last week in New Jersey, regarding heading to San Antonio. "But in terms of what kind of reception I'll receive, I don't know."
"Tony is learning," said Bill Branch, the director of scouting for the Denver Nuggets. "He's so young, he's learning the system. I think a lot of it is not only veteran savvy, but it's playoff experience. Kidd has been there before. Tony is a younger guy. You're going up against a guy who's probably the best point guard in the league, and you're going up against him in this great venue."
The former N.B.A. point guard Nate Archibald said: "No one has Kidd's speed, tenacity or the ability to get the ball to the open person. Tony Parker is not a rookie, but he just doesn't have the same experience or knowledge as a guy like Kidd. I look at Jason as a utility guard who can defend three positions - I watched him guard Kobe Bryant last year. Remember when people compared Kidd to Gary Payton and talked about the No. 1 point guard in the N.B.A.? I think Jason Kidd has, by leaps and bounds, passed him because of how he's motivated his team."
"In the N.B.A. they always do that, the comparison," Parker said. "Even if I am 21, my second year in the league and still learning, you know they are going to compare me to him. It's a great honor because he is the best point guard in the league. It's not like we choose from somebody from Yugoslavia or Spain and he's nobody. It's Jason Kidd. So I'm happy."
06/02/03 Article: If you win a championship, do you think the Spurs will still want to sign Kidd? Can you play next to Kidd? Why do the Spurs want a point guard when they already have one? "I answer that question maybe 500 times," Parker said. "I can't control that. The NBA is a big business. The only thing I can control is to try to make my team win. That's the only thing I can do. Try to play well and hope the Spurs keep me."
"It might be (tough) on him," Kidd said. "But basketball is basketball and business is business. As you get older, you understand that. Tony's got a good head on his shoulders. I think he understands. It hasn't stopped him from playing well."
"I hope people (media) continue to challenge him like that 'cuz Tony plays good when they do that," Stephen Jackson said. "It fuels Tony up, it gives him more ammo. So keep it up."
"That's my job," Parker said. "I'm going to answer (the questions) every time, and I've got no problem with it. It's not going to affect my game."
"He's very mature," Tim Duncan said. "It doesn't seem to rattle him at all. I'm proud of him. I'm glad he is the way he is."
"For me it's a great honor," Parker said. "He's the best point guard in the NBA. It's not like they choose somebody from Yugoslavia and he's nobody. He's Jason Kidd."
"Even if you have a good season, you never know," Parker said. "They can still make some trades. You're never sure in this business. Even if you're established, they can do something. Sometimes people just aren't happy."
But if Parker was general manager? "If I was general manager?" Parker said, smiling. "I'd keep me."
05/25/03 Article: On winning two in Dallas: "It was huge for us. Now we’ve got a chance to close out a home. New Jersey has finished with Detroit already so they are going to get a lot of rest. It’d be good for us if we can finish too so we can get some rest. There are a lot of old guys on our team that need to get some rest.
On the Spurs having a deep bench: "Our bench is great and that’s what I think makes the difference. Malik Rose was huge. He hit three big baskets and grabbed three big offensive rebounds. And Manu in the second quarter, he carried us. That is why I think our team is so good, because you need your bench to help."
05/24/03 Article: "We're a much better team," Popovich said, "when Tony's aggressive."
Duncan agreed. “Absolutely, he was great; hitting his shots, being aggressive in the open court. We talked about it at halftime. Dallas defended well in the second quarter, and then they pushed it right back at us. If we did get a stop or if they scored, we walked it back up the court. We want to be a lot more aggressive coming back at them if we did get a stop; making them pay for trying to get a quick basket and being spread out. Tony took it upon himself to push it back up the court and make them pay for it,” said Duncan.
05/23/03 Article: On getting open looks: "When you play with a guy like Timmy it’s easy. You get a lot of open shots because they throw a lot of double teams at him and he is so dominant."
On coach Pop making Tony more aggressive: At the beginning (of the season) he tried to make me become a John Stockton. I think now he understands I’m more like Isaiah Thomas. He’s just going to let me play my game now. More as a scoring point guard."
04/27/02 Article: "What he did and who he did it against -- it was a tight game, he was making those moves and handling the pressure at 19. I was a college kid with some acne at age 19."-- Malik Rose, on Tony Parker's Game 3 performance vs. Gary Payton
"I just try to be aggressive," Parker said. "David is not here, so somebody else has to step up."
"The crowd was crazy and I just said to myself, `I've got to try and do something,'" Parker said. "I'm going to try and penetrate and get some easy baskets. You just try to play physical. Hey, that's playoff basketball."
"Rook (Parker) was attacking great and getting into the middle and finding people for open shots and making some shots himself," Duncan said. "We knew that when we got down that we had to grind it out. Luckily some shots started falling. We turned our ‘D' up a little bit and got some stops and got back into the game."
Back to the top
|
|
 |
