Celebrity Biographies
Tony Parker Biography And Net Worth
Meet Tony Parker: A Former French Basketball Star and ASVEL Basket Owner
Tony Parker is a French former professional basketball and now owns most of ASVEL Basket in the LNB Pro A. He started his career at Paris Basket Racing in the French basketball league. Later, he joined the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. The Spurs chose him as the 28th overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft, and he quickly became their starting point guard.
Moreover, Parker won four NBA championships with the Spurs in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. He also played for ASVEL Basket in France during the 2011 NBA lockout and finished his playing career after one season with the Charlotte Hornets. He retired as the ninth-highest scorer and fifth-highest passer in NBA playoffs history.
In this article, RNN provides detailed information about Tony Parker.
Bio Data
| Full Name | William Anthony Parker Jr |
| Date of Birth | 17 May 1982 |
| Age | 41 Years Old |
| Place Of Birth | Bruges, Belgium |
| Nationality | American, French |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Net Worth | $85 million |
| Marital Status | Married |
Biography
William Anthony Parker Jr. was born on 17 May 1982 in Bruges, Belgium, and grew up in France. His father, Tony Parker Sr., who is African American, played basketball at Loyola University Chicago and also played professionally overseas. His mother, Pamela Firestone, is Dutch. His maternal grandmother, Jetty Baars-Wienese, is a Dutch national tennis champion from 1956, and Tony’s great-uncle Jan Wienese won an Olympic gold medal in rowing.
Parker had close relationships with his brothers and often watched their father’s basketball games together. Initially, Parker was more into soccer, but during summer trips to his father’s hometown of Chicago, he saw how Michael Jordan became a worldwide basketball star and changed his mind.
Parker’s two younger brothers, T. J. and Pierre were also deeply involved in basketball, eventually playing at the college and professional levels. As Parker honed his skills, he played as a point guard because he realized that his speed and agility suited this position. At the age of 15, he became a French citizen while keeping his American nationality, and he was later invited to attend INSEP in Paris.
Career
Paris Basket Racing (1999–2001)
In 1999, Parker began playing professionally for Paris Basket Racing after two years in French amateur leagues. He impressed everyone in a game in 2000 and got attention from colleges like UCLA and Georgia Tech, but he decided to stay in France for one more year. Then, in 2001, he joined the NBA draft.
San Antonio Spurs (2001–2011)
First championship (2001–2003)
In 2001, Parker had a tough time at the San Antonio Spurs’ summer camp because of a tough defender, Lance Blanks, but a video of his best plays gave him a second chance. The Spurs picked him 28th overall.
In his first season, he backed up Antonio Daniels but soon became a starter, playing 77 regular-season games. He did well and became the first foreign-born guard to make the All-Rookie First Team.
Second championship (2003–2005)
In the next seasons, Parker got better and played a big role for the Spurs. He won his first NBA championship in 2003 but had some difficulties in the playoffs.
In 2004, despite doubts about his future with the Spurs, Parker continued as the starting point guard, but the team didn’t win the championship.
In the 2004–05 season, Parker had better regular season stats but faced challenges in the NBA Finals. However, the Spurs managed to win their third NBA championship by beating the Detroit Pistons.
Overall, Parker’s journey from France to the NBA and his success with the San Antonio Spurs show his determination and hard work.
Third championship
From 2005 to 2007, Tony Parker played a vital role for the San Antonio Spurs. He became an NBA All-Star in 2006 and helped his team achieve an impressive win-loss record. Despite their success, they couldn’t win consecutive championships, losing in the playoffs. In 2007, Parker was selected as an All-Star again and led the Spurs to win the NBA Finals, earning him the Finals MVP award as the first European-born player to do so.
In the 2007–08 season, Parker continued to play well, but the Spurs fell short of winning another championship. In the 2008–09 season, he had an outstanding 55-point game but couldn’t prevent an early playoff exit. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team that year.
The 2010–11 season started strong for the Spurs, but they were upset in the playoffs by the Memphis Grizzlies. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Parker played for ASVEL, a French basketball team he was involved with.
Parker continued to do great in the following seasons, breaking franchise records and earning All-Star selections. The Spurs had success in the playoffs but couldn’t secure another championship, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat.
Fourth championship (2013–2014)
In the 2013–14 season, the Spurs, with Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginóbili, tied the record for most playoff wins by a trio of players. They went on to win the NBA Finals, giving Parker his fourth championship.
Charlotte Hornets (2018–2019)
Parker stayed with the Spurs until 2018 when he joined the Charlotte Hornets. He retired from the NBA in 2019. He ended his career ranked fifth in career playoff assists (1,143) and ninth in career playoff scoring (4,045)
National Team Career
Parker played basketball for France in various championships. He was really good and won awards. He also played for the French national team several times. They won bronze in 2005, but he couldn’t play in 2006 because of a finger injury. In 2007, he did well, but they lost in the quarter-finals. In 2011, they reached the finals but lost to Spain. He also played in the 2012 Olympics. In 2013, they won the EuroBasket. In 2015, he became the top scorer in EuroBasket history, but Pau Gasol later broke that record. In 2016, he said he’d retire from international play after the Olympics, but he confirmed it after they lost in the quarter-finals.
Honors
Here are the highlights of the person’s achievements:
Team Achievements:
- NBA champion in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.
Individual Achievements:
- NBA Finals MVP in 2007.
- NBA All-Star in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014.
- Named to All-NBA Second Team in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
- Named to All-NBA Third Team in 2009.
- NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2002.
- Won the NBA Skills Challenge in 2012.
- Became the all-time leader in assists for San Antonio.
- Member of the 2006 San Antonio All-Star Shooting Stars team, setting a record with a half-court shot in 25.1 seconds.
- Named NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for January 2013, the first Spurs player to receive this honor since Tim Duncan in April 2002.
Junior National Team:
- Won the 2000 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and was named MVP.
Senior National Team:
- Gold and Top Scorer in EuroBasket 2013.
- Silver and Top Scorer in EuroBasket 2011.
- Bronze in EuroBasket 2005 and 2015.
Other Honors:
- Named L’Équipe Champion of Champions in 2003 and 2013.
- Inducted into the Legion of Honor with the rank of Chevalier in 2007.
- Awarded Euroscar in 2007 and 2013.
- Named All-Europeans Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014.
- Received the FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award in 2013 and 2014.
- Featured on the cover of NBA Live 09.
FAQs
Who is Tony Parker married to today?
Tony Parker divorced his second wife, Axelle Francine, a while ago. Now, he’s dating a 33-year-old French tennis player named Alize Lim. Both Parker and Francine are from France and are used to being in the spotlight.
What is Tony Parker’s wife’s name?
Does Tony Parker have a son?
Yes!! His son’s name is Liam Parker.