I won four NBA titles and played against the best – MJ is the GOAT and Kobe was better than LeBron
Rare is a player who can be found in the Hall of Fame and is considered underrated. Yet, that was the story of Tony Parker. Head coach Gregg Popovich (L) coached Tony Parker (R) for the entirety of Parker’s career in San AntonioGetty Hall of Famer, four-time NBA champion, Finals MVP, six-time All-Star. Yet, criminally underrated. Parker was the point guard of one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties, the San Antonio Spurs. Parker, along with superstar Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, helped transcend the Spurs to rarefied air during the 2000s and into the 2010s. The French-American played 18 seasons in the Association. In other words, he had seen it all. And played against the best of the best across multiple generations. So when Parker speaks, people tend to listen. Talking with Konbini Sports back in 2020, Parker revealed who he considered to be basketball’s GOAT. And keep in mind, this is a guy who shared the court with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. Parker played James in the NBA Finals one three separate occasions, going 2-1 against him Parker and Bryant had legendary battles in the 2000sGetty “I played LeBron in his prime, Kobe in his prime, and Jordan late in his career,” Parker said. “For me, Jordan is the best player of all time. Kobe was incredible. “LeBron of course very very strong but I think that Kobe was better. When we played the Lakers, it was a big rivalry—Lakers vs. Spurs. “So I never said to myself – Oh! We have beaten twice the best player in the world because for me it was Kobe.” There you have it. Parker ranked Jordan, Bryant, then James. In that order. Before Bryant’s tragic passing in 2020, the Lakers legend recorded an interview for Parker’s Netflix documentary, Tony Parker: The Final Shot, where he gave the ultimate praise to the shifty point guard. “I’ve played against Tony for years and years. He’s responsible for me not winning more championships,” Bryant said. “You have Tony. You have Manu. You have Tim. You have Pop. It creates this perfect storm, and that’s how dynasties are formed.” A dynasty that remained at or near the top of the NBA for over 15 seasons. And Parker was squarely in the middle of it. That is why when he speaks, people listen.
Rare is a player who can be found in the Hall of Fame and is considered underrated.
Yet, that was the story of Tony Parker.
Hall of Famer, four-time NBA champion, Finals MVP, six-time All-Star.
Yet, criminally underrated.
Parker was the point guard of one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties, the San Antonio Spurs.
Parker, along with superstar Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, helped transcend the Spurs to rarefied air during the 2000s and into the 2010s.
The French-American played 18 seasons in the Association.
In other words, he had seen it all.
And played against the best of the best across multiple generations.
So when Parker speaks, people tend to listen.
Talking with Konbini Sports back in 2020, Parker revealed who he considered to be basketball’s GOAT.
And keep in mind, this is a guy who shared the court with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.
“I played LeBron in his prime, Kobe in his prime, and Jordan late in his career,” Parker said.
“For me, Jordan is the best player of all time. Kobe was incredible.
“LeBron of course very very strong but I think that Kobe was better. When we played the Lakers, it was a big rivalry—Lakers vs. Spurs.
“So I never said to myself – Oh! We have beaten twice the best player in the world because for me it was Kobe.”
There you have it.
Parker ranked Jordan, Bryant, then James. In that order.
Before Bryant’s tragic passing in 2020, the Lakers legend recorded an interview for Parker’s Netflix documentary, Tony Parker: The Final Shot, where he gave the ultimate praise to the shifty point guard.
“I’ve played against Tony for years and years. He’s responsible for me not winning more championships,” Bryant said.
“You have Tony. You have Manu. You have Tim. You have Pop. It creates this perfect storm, and that’s how dynasties are formed.”
A dynasty that remained at or near the top of the NBA for over 15 seasons.
And Parker was squarely in the middle of it.
That is why when he speaks, people listen.
