The Golden State Warriors won an impressive 67 games this season, but right behind them in the Western Conference for much of the season was the San Antonio Spurs, who finished with 61 wins. Many expected the Spurs and Warriors to meet in the Conference Finals, but a couple of injuries made a boring four-game sweep out of what should've been an interesting series.

The Spurs were dealt a pair of injuries to key starters Kawhi Leonard (repeated ankle sprains) as well as Tony Parker (ruptured quad tendon) and ultimately resulted in their exit in the West Finals. While Leonard's ankle sprain is not considered serious and he is expected to be ready for the start of the 2017-18 season, the same cannot be said about Parker.

Parker discussed his injury with the French outlet L'Equipe, translated by Google:

“It's okay. It's okay. At the time, it is clear that it is difficult to live. The first feeling that comes when I hurt myself is frustration. I was super good, we had an opportunity to go to the end, to go get a title. These kinds of opportunities, you do not have a thousand times in your career. So on the spot, I'm frustrated.

“Afterwards, I quickly relativize things in general. And here, it is the same, you relativists. Given my game, considering what I've been giving for sixteen years in the NBA, I think I'm doing pretty well.”

The 35-year old French point guard injured himself in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Houston Rockets, elevating for a floating shot in the paint, but landed and immediately collapsed to the floor. He was then carried off by his Spurs teammates in front of a concerned San Antonio crowd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c2eEbv6NDA

While he did suffer a full rupture of the quad tendon, Parker told L'Equipe that he expects to be back and playing in January of 2018, meaning he'll miss the first few months of the 2017-18 season, including training camp and the preseason.

“I will play my best basketball when I return in January,” said Parker. “The coach's plan worked like a clock. I was consistent, playing for twenty to twenty five minutes per game. My series against Memphis was good and I had a good start in the season.”

Parker played in 63 of the Spurs 82 games while averaging 10.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists in 25.2 minutes per game and 46.6 percent shooting from the field. Parker will be playing in his 17th NBA season when he suits up next season.