The San Antonio Spurs back in the 2001 NBA Draft decided to select a young French guard in Tony Parker with the 28th overall selection.
According to Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports, current Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti played a significant part in helping the Spurs take Parker just over 16 years ago.
So Sam Presti, then a 24-year-old Spurs scout and now general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder, would show up at Buford's home, after the kids had gone to bed, with a duffel bag full of VHS tapes of this young French wizard. He dreamed of finding the next great player to put beside superstar Tim Duncan.
They got their man in the 2001 draft, taking Parker 28th and handing him over to coach Gregg Popovich and his sink-or-swim ways.
“I just remember how excited R.C. was after it worked out in the draft,” Presti told USA TODAY Sports. “The draft is a different animal, so you never know how the board will ultimately work or fall. There was some uneasiness about whether or not he would be available at our pick.
The decision to take Parker has worked out tremendously for San Antonio as he quickly became one of the core pieces of the franchise that helped them maintain a high amount of success in the many years that have since followed. He helped guide the team to four NBA titles, including earning the 2007 NBA Finals MVP while also garnering six All-Star Game nods, three All-NBA Second Team selections, and one All-NBA Third Team nod.
Parker is currently ninth in NBA history in scoring in the playoffs and second all-time for point guards behind Hall of Famer Jerry West along with being fifth in assists and games played. In truth, he has put together a career that will more than likely land him in the Hall of Fame shortly after he decides to step away from the game.
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