Parker explains signing with Hornets: 'When M.J. called, it was over'
All Tony Parker knew for 17 seasons was being a member of the San Antonio Spurs, which is why it came as a shock to many when the veteran elected to finish off his storied career in new surroundings.
Parker had his reasons for signing a two-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets this summer, all of which were cemented once his childhood hero and Hornets majority owner Michael Jordan reached out to him.
"And then when M.J. called, it was over," Parker told Hornets.com's Matt Rochinski. "He texted me, and everybody that’s known me for many years knows M.J. was always my idol growing up. He was my favorite player and that’s who I wanted to become. He made me want to play basketball.
"The way that he carried himself through his career was a great example for me to follow during the Bulls’ years, Dream Team and all that. That’s when basketball exploded in Europe. For me, it’s like I’m closing my basketball chapter playing for Michael, my last couple of years in the NBA. I thought it was pretty cool."
With a close friend and fellow Frenchman on the roster, as well as former Spurs assistant James Borrego taking over as bench boss, the move to Charlotte was an easy one for Parker to make.
The 36-year-old explained that he sought a change of scenery, and with longtime teammate Manu Ginobili likely headed for retirement following the 2017-18 campaign, Parker figured now was as good a time as any to leave San Antonio.
"I kind of figured it was going to be Manu last year and for me, I just wanted to – I know it sounds simple – but I just wanted to see something else - go to the East Coast and go do something else in the NBA," Parker said. "I did everything I wanted to accomplish with the Spurs. They’ve been amazing to me, but I just felt it was time to go another direction.
"It helped with Nicolas Batum being here because he’s like my little brother. We’ve been playing together for a long time with the (French) National Team. J.B. (Borrego) is the new head coach who has been with me for 10 or 12 years as an assistant with the Spurs. I’ve always had a great relationship with him. When he called me, I [thought] it’d be a great challenge to help him out in his first head coaching job."
Parker won four championships with the Spurs, and was named Finals MVP in 2007. He averaged a career-low 7.7 points and 3.5 assists on 45.9 percent shooting last season as he worked his way back from a ruptured left quadriceps tendon.