Tony Parker Has Number Retired by Spurs

San Antonio Spurs legend Tony Parker was honored on Monday night when the team retired his number nine jersey.

The French guard was given a tribute by coach Gregg Popovich following San Antonio’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Tony Parker won four NBA titles in 17 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs after joining them in 2001. 

After establishing himself as a starter at 19, Tony Parker went on to become the 2007 NBA Finals MVP. That Spurs team will be forever remembered for it’s sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the best of seven finals. In that series, Parker averaged 24.5 points.

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“Thanks for all those years,” Parker said.

“It was a crazy ride.”

“Tony, I want to apologize for all the physical and mental abuse I gave you the whole time you were here,” Popovich said.

“I’ve been the luckiest guy in the world to see you from age 19 to this point. I feel fortunate I was there to see it all. I love you.”

“Pretty soon we’re going to be there when you enter the Hall of Fame,” he said. “That’s pretty amazing. You have done amazing things. You’ve made my life richer.”

“You are always the boss but on this night I am,” Parker said.

“For me, the impact you had in my life – you were the unbelievable second dad to me, the way you taught me stuff and made me better.

“Thanks for believing in me. You inspire me. You taught me a lot and I’ll be thankful forever.”

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Parker averaged 15.5 points, 5.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds over 1,254 career NBA games. He played his final NBA season with the Charlotte Hornets.