Tony Parker graceful after losing starting point guard job
It’s the end of an era in San Antonio.
Tony Parker confirmed to reporters after the Spurs’ 94-86 home loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday that he is no longer the team’s starting point guard. Parker took the news in an incredibly graceful way, according to a quote shared by the San Antonio Express News’ Tom Osborn.
“Pop told me,” Parker said. “He told me he thought it was time, and I was like, ‘No problem.’ Just like Manu (Ginobili), just like Pau (Gasol), you know that day is going to come,” Parker said, via Osborn. “If Pop sees something that is good for the team, I will try to do my best…I will support Pop’s decision, and I will try to help DJ as best as I can and try to be the best I can in that second unit with Manu and Patty (Mills).”
Dejounte Murray started in Parker’s place. He had eight points, seven rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes, while Parker scored 12 with five assists in 20 minutes.
A first-round pick by the Spurs in 2016, Murray is averaging 17.9 minutes per game this season and will be seeing a bump. Parker, 35, has been with the Spurs since 2001 and is playing his fewest minutes since his rookie season, though he had started every game he played until Sunday.
