Tony Parker '50-50' on returning for his 19th NBA season
Future Hall of Famer Tony Parker is unsure if he will retire this offseason, although the league is likely hoping he will stick around for his 19th season.
Parker’s Charlotte Hornets are scheduled to play the NBA’s first game in Paris next season, and Parker would be one of the biggest draws as the sport’s most famous Frenchman. Fellow Hornet Nicolas Batum was also a key part of the league’s choice to pick the team, since he is the active leading scorer among players born in France.
Parker spoke about his tough decision ahead on the French television show “C’a Vous” on Thursday, and it appears a decision could be coming soon.
"It's 50-50,” Parker said, in French. “I have not made up my mind yet, I told the club that I will give them an answer in June, I really hesitate, I have nothing to prove, I want to spend time with my family and another part of me that wants to do one last, there is an NBA match in France, in Paris, it will be a nice event.”
This season was Parker’s first not on the San Antonio Spurs and his first without starting a game. Parker averaged 9.5 points and 3.7 assists in 17.9 minutes per game off the bench as he backed up All-Star Kemba Walker.
Hornets’ playoff chances are key factor for Parker
The Hornets were in the playoff hunt until the last game of the season but ultimately fell two games shy of the No. 8 seed Detroit Pistons. That ended Parker’s league-best 17 straight seasons of making the postseason.
Charlotte will likely be back on the playoff bubble next season if it can retain Walker, but that remains a big “if.” Walker has repeatedly said that he wants to stay in Charlotte, but there will be plenty of greener pastures in free agency.
And considering how much value Parker is placing on playing on a contending team, he may not have much appetite for playing on a rebuilding Hornets team that would need to move on without Walker.
“All my life I have played to win titles,” Parker said. “Charlotte being a mid-table team, sometimes you have trouble getting up in the morning to motivate yourself. I spent 17 years in San Antonio, at the beginning of the season, I thought we had a chance to win the title.”
Parker has one season left on his two-year, $10 million deal, but money is not an issue for the soon-to-be 37-year-old. He already has over $165 million in career earnings and can retire happy if he wants.
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