Team 2008-09: SAN ANTONIO SPURS (NBA) Career: Centre Fédéral-INSEP (France-3rd Division, 1997-99), Paris BR (France-Pro A, 1999-2001), San Antonio Spurs (NBA, 2001-09)
A little ankle injury and the lack of confidence the Spurs had in French doctors made Tony Parker miss almost half of the qualifying campaign. Not a good thing since TP, who this year quit playing very early in the spring with the rare elimination of San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs. But hey! Now that France has finally qualified for this EuroBasket, lets think that it might have been a good thing for France as its star had more time to rest and his teammates more chances to find their rhythm in Vincent Collet's collective game. As always, Tony is capable to taking over a game (23 pts against Italy and 26 in Belgium), but he didn't have yet a chance to be as consistent game after game, as he is with the Spurs. Selected for his third All-Star Game in February 2008, and named for the first time to the All-NBA third team, the 27 year-old has proven that he can be considered as one of the Top 10 or 12 players in the World. Quite an accomplishment. His dedication to his national team can only be compared to Dirk Nowitzki's, as he even came last summer during a tricky qualifying campaign against the will of his coach. Only problem, at times, when Tony is rolling, his teammates have a tendency to stop playing and just watch him play. French press call that phenomenon "Parker Dependence". Well, lots of coaches dream to have the same problem to deal with. | 
