Tony Parker
Another foreign player on the San Antonio team, William Anthony “Tony” Parker was born in Bruges, Belgium. However, the player would spend most of his early years in France. Parker’s French upbringing would lead to other opportunities throughout his career. Now, the NBA star not only plays for the San Antonio Spurs, but also, France’s national team.The player’s father was a professional basketball player and the dedicated son would often watch his father play. Tony Parker Sr. got his start at Loyola University Chicago and played outside of the country at a professional level. A combination of his family’s involvement in the sport, as well as his admiration for Michael Jordan, turned Parker’s hopes towards a career in basketball. The future NBA star would go to school at the National Institute for Sports and Physical Education, later joining the professional Paris Basket Racing (1999).However, it would be the Nike Hoop Summit that would change the course of Parker’s career. Competing with other future NBA stars (such as Omar Cook), he would be watched by college coaches and professional scouts. His performance at the 2000 summit led to seven assists, two steals, four rebounds and a recorded 20 points. Despite the multiple colleges (such as UCLA) who fought over the future star, Parker returned to France.It wasn’t until 2001 that Parker would enter the NBA Draft. Chosen as the 28th overall pick, Tony Parker has now been playing with the Spurs for nine years. During that time, he has assisted his team in winning the 2003, 2005, and 2007 NBA Championships. The player has been chosen as an NBA All-Star three times, was selected as the NBA Finals MVP in 2007, and has also been an All-NBA Third Team Member.Parker’s family history created the environment for a star, and since then, the player has become a national and international star.