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In a bit of a surprise move on Friday afternoon, veteran point guard Tony Parker decided to ink a two-year, $10 million deal to join the Charlotte Hornets, ending his 17-season tenure with the San Antonio Spurs where he was a prominent fixture with the franchise.
Following the announcement of the signing, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich issued a heartfelt statement where he voiced his appreciation for the time he had with Parker.
Gregg Popovich statement on the departure of Spurs legend Tony Parker to Charlotte pic.twitter.com/GDsUbi9zgJ
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 6, 2018
Throughout his time with the Spurs, Parker was one of the core pieces of the puzzle, helping lift the franchise to playoff appearances in each campaign while winning four NBA titles in five trips to the game's ultimate stag. He also lifted himself up to being widely regarded as one of the top players at his position in the league behind his steady play that helped him earn six All-Star selections and four All-NBA team nods.
Parker established a strong relationship with Popovich that extended off the court given everything they went through over the last two decades. The 36-year-old's departure now leaves a great void for the franchise ,with one of the greatest players in team history choosing to embark elsewhere on this next chapter of his career, which could mark the final contract that he signs.
In his final campaign with the Spurs, Parker played in 55 games and averaged 7.7 points on 45.9 percent shooting from the field and 27.0 percent from beyond the arc along with 3.5 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per contest. Parker transitioned to coming off the bench behind Dejounte Murray, who will now have the reins as the clear-cut starter for next season, and beyond.
