Father Time is undefeated, and it looks like it has after San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich recently told Parker, who has spent his entire NBA career in San Antonio, that it might be time to start a younger point guard and move him to a bench role, per Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News.
Tony Parker strongly suggested the torch has been passed now to Dejounte Murray: "Pop told me. He told me that he thought it was time. And I was like, 'No, problem. Just like Manu, just like Pau, you know that day is going to come."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) January 22, 2018
Parker is not used to coming off the bench. In fact, Sunday was the first time in his entire career that he'd done so in the regular season, per Michael C. Wright of ESPN. Wright also reported that it was the first time Parker had come off the bench since 2010.
Spurs point guard Tony Parker came off the bench Sunday against the Indiana Pacers for the first time in his career in the regular season, and the first time since the 2010 playoffs. Parker said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told him that "he thought it… https://t.co/WY2WS42Q19
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) January 22, 2018
This was bound to happen. With the roster having so many aging players, it was only a matter of time until the veterans had to accept smaller roles to allow the younger players to shine. It happens to every great player that plays a long time in the NBA.
But that doesn't mean it's not kind of sad. Parker, Ginobili, and, to a certain extent, Gasol are among the best on the Spurs, and they have always been somewhat ageless with the way they play basketball. And now, they have all been relegated to the bench.
Parker was the last of these older players to still be starting. His move to the bench represents an entire changing of the guard in San Antonio. That's a good thing, but Parker and players like him will be missed out there in the starting lineup.