Tony Parker has yet to play his first game in a different uniform, but that hasn't meant that he's not already missed by the San Antonio Spurs, and most importantly, his former head coach Gregg Popovich.
Pop and Parker spent 17 seasons together before he agreed to a two-year deal with the Charlotte Hornets, as the former told Chinese website Hupu.com that he will retire a Spur. Those feelings are reciprocated by Popovich, who told Amaury Perdriau of French website L'Equipe that his longtime point guard would remain a lifelong friend.
via Jeff Garcia of News 4 San Antonio:
“We will be friends for life,” said Popovich. “Our families know each other very well. San Antonio will always be his second home, after France.”
The same was said about his desire to retire a Spur, knowing that he invested 17 years of his life into the city and the organization.
“We will obviously miss him, but he will always remain a member of the Spurs, especially since he will keep his house in San Antonio and will continue to spend time there,” added Popovich.
The duo won four NBA titles together before Parker handed the keys to Dejounte Murray, the clear point guard of the future, instead deciding to take a venture at the end of his career and play alongside French national team partner Nicolas Batum and former assistant-turned-head-coach James Borrego.
Popovich has a history of keeping in touch with his former players, as he's done with David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, among others. Surely Parker won't be the exception, having shared many memories together in the past two decades.
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