Tony Parker is a former professional basketball player. Tony Parker is now the majority owner of ASVEL Basket of the LNB Pro A in France. In the NBA draft of 2001, he was selected by the San Antonio Spurs.
He had started his professional career in France in 1999. His performance garnered him significant international acclaim while he was still playing for the Paris Basket Racing.
Table of Contents
Childhood, Family, and Education
Tony Parker was born on May 17, 1982, in Burges, Belgium.
Tony Parker Sr. was a professional basketball player who represented a number of international clubs.
Despite the fact that Tony Sr. was an American citizen, his family lived in France and Tony Sr. played professional basketball there.
Tony’s mother, Pamela Firestone, was a Dutch national tennis champion and a Dutch citizen (1956).
Tony began participating in sports at a young age. He and his younger brothers frequently attended basketball games to see their father play. He was, however, originally drawn to soccer.
T.J. and Pierre, two of his siblings, were also talented athletes, and the three brothers eventually followed in their father’s footsteps.
His parents were quite supportive because his family had previously produced numerous well-known athletes.
As a result, he and his brothers both became professional basketball players. T.J. has even represented France in international events and is presently the head coach of ASVEL.
Tony eventually moved his attention from soccer to basketball while still in school.
However, Michael Jordan’s rise to fame at the time had left a lasting impression on him, and he became heavily immersed in the sport as a result.
His family was granted naturalized French citizenship when he was 15, and he was immediately offered a spot at the prestigious INSEP sports learning institute in Paris.
He did not continue academic study after enrolling at INSEP.
Body Measurements
As of 2022, Tony Parker is 39 years old and his zodiac sign is Taurus.
Tony was initially relatively short for a basketball player, so he thought it was appropriate for him to play in the point guard position.
As a result, he perfected himself, especially in that position.
However, he somehow had a growth spurt when he was around 15.
As a result, he stands 1.88 meters (6 feet 2 inches) tall. In addition, he weighs about 185 lb (84 kg).
Facts of Tony Parker
| Full Name | William Anthony Parker Jr. |
| Full Name | Tony Parker |
| Date of Birth | May 17, 1982 |
| Birth Place | Bruges, Belgium |
| Nicknames | T.P., Tony P, The Parisian Torpedo |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | French / American |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Age | 39 years old |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 feet) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Build | Athletic |
| Father’s Name | Tony Parker Sr. |
| Mother’s Name | Pamela Firestone |
| Sibling | T.J. Parker, Pierre Parker |
| Education | National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance (INSEP) |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Ex-Wives’ Names |
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| Girlfriend’s Name | Alize Lim |
| Kids | Josh Parker, Liam Parker |
| Profession | Former Basketball Player |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| NBA Draft | 2001 |
| Position | Point Guard |
| League |
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| Active Years | (1999–2019) |
| Clubs played for |
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| Net Worth | $85 million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
| Merch |
Tony Parker 8-Card Plaque |
| Last Update | May 2022 |
Net Worth & Career Earnings
According to sources, Tony Parker has a net worth of approximately $85 million. However, some websites have mentioned somewhere between $75 to $100 million.
Hailing from a wealthy background, Tony started earning money through the French League games before the NBA.
Signing with the Spurs in 2001, he had received around $0.74 for his rookie season.
The NBA veteran played for Charlotte Hornets for his last NBA season.
Even though there was a considerable decrease in his vigor and effect in his previous years, the club knew his worth and offered him $5 million that season.
Tony collected approximately $170 million from his entire NBA career.
Apart from his playing career, he has invested his capital in the French League club, ASVEL. As of now, he is its president and the club’s prominent owner.
Similarly, he became the major shareholder of the ASVEL Feminin club in 2017. It participates in the French women’s basketball league.
League of France
Parker played in the amateur league in Paris for two seasons while still a student at INSEP.
After graduating, he signed with the prestigious French team Paris Basket Racing to play in the LNB Pro A.
For his success in the inaugural season of the French League, the player earned widespread attention.
As a result, Tony was invited to play in the Nike Hoop Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2000.
He did not hesitate to exhibit his natural game and outshone practically everyone in the tournament, despite the fact that the event was full of top-class athletes from Europe and the United States.
Many universities in the United States offered him scholarships after his achievement, but he declined. After that, he played one more season in the French League before entering the NBA draft in 2001.
Basketball Career
While still having a nice time in Europe, his celebrity had already crossed oceans and reached America.
As a result, when NBA teams learned of his plan to join the league, many rushed to sign him.
The Spurs of San Antonio were the first to respond, inviting him to their pre-draft summer camp. Tony impressed the Spurs after undergoing two rounds of rigorous testing.
As a result, the Spurs selected him 28th overall in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft.
Because the team already had an experienced point guard in Antonio Daniels, he spent much of his first season as a backup.
Tony was promoted to the team’s starting point guard the following season, giving him additional playing time. In the same season, he received his first NBA championship ring.
Every season he was with the Spurs, they made the NBA playoffs.
When it came to his performance, he always gave his all to the squad. His outstanding contributions likely helped the Spurs win three more championship rings during his career.
Meanwhile, in 2011, he briefly played for the ASVEL Basket.
In all of the years he wore their shirt, the French sensation was the team’s favorite and was always in the starting lineup, except when he was injured.
On June 10, 2019, he announced his retirement from all forms of basketball after an eighteen-year legendary career with the same team. He did, however, finish his career with the Charlotte Hornets.
On November 11, 2019, the Spurs retired his number 9 jersey.
National Team Experience
Apart from his professional career, Tony represented France in a number of international tournaments. He does, however, have dual citizenship.
As a teenager, the Spurs legend began playing for junior French national teams.
He initially represented France at the 1997 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, wearing the national team’s shirt.
Following that tournament, he was consistently selected for a French squad of various age categories, and as a result, he competed in other FIBA Europe championships.
Tony was named MVP of the 2000 FIBA Europe U-18 Championship, where he led his country to gold with 14.4 points per game.
From the 2001 EuroBasket to 2016, he was a member of the senior French national team. He led them to other international events such as EuroBasket, the Olympics, and others during his 15-year international career.
After the French team failed to advance to the semi-finals of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he retired from the international competition.
Tony Parker Outside Basketball Court
Entertainment Industry
Most people who follow Parker are well aware that he has a great love for music, especially hip-hop music. He had always wanted to bring out his album for quite a long which he fulfilled by releasing T.P. in 2007.
Moreover, he has had numerous collaborations with music artists such as Booba, Jamie Foxx, Soprano, etc.
In addition, he has produced a biographical documentary film starring various sports stars, including Kobe Bryant, Sean Elliott, Zinedine Zidane, David Douillet, and many more.
Moreover, he has his film production company named Argent Pictures.
Likewise, he has starred himself in documentaries and tv series.
Moreover, he has co-directed a French film entitled Un chiffre, un home with director Jean-Marie Antonini.
Tony starred in the Netflix documentary Parker: The Final Shot, led by filmmaker Florent Bodin in 2021. He used to appear in TV ads and commercials as well frequently.
Other Business Ventures & Philanthropy
Tony has extended his business ventures in multiple fields.
He had established a sports academy named Parker Adequat Academy in 2018, which trains young basketball enthusiasts to succeed as better professional players.
Likewise, he bought a share in OL Reign, the National Women’s Soccer League team based in Washington, in late 2019.
In addition, he got involved with the NorthRock Partners, the global advisory firm, to direct its sports, artists, and entertainment section in the same year.
Tony had opened up a hangout place for his fans named Nueve Lounge around 2012. Located in San Antonio, the place was frequently visited by his teammates and their wives.
His two brothers, TJ and Pierre, were also involved in the business. The place was emerging as a popular spot for Spurs fans to spend their time, but it unexpectedly ended in 2013.
Besides, the player has a good heart and has made good use of his money by involving in various philanthropic activities.
He has been assisting underprivileged and medically unfit children frequently all over these years.
He has associated himself with various non-profit organizations, the most notable being the Steve Nash Foundation, Eva’s Heroes, and Make-A-Wish France.
Personal Life
When it comes to dating rumors, Tony Parker’s name has been linked with various women at different times. However, he married twice in his lifetime and has already been divorced.
Following his separation, he is currently in an intense relationship with the French professional tennis player, Alize Lim.
Tony has known Alize for so long, but they finally began dating in 2021.
Alize was born in France in 1990 to her Vietnamese father and a French mother.
She had made her Grand Slam debut in 2011 through the French Open and has since played many of them but without winning.
In addition, she frequently works with the French television channel Eurosport as a presenter with other experts such as Johanna Konta and Tim Henman.
Previously, he was married to famous Hollywood actress Eva Longoria. They engaged in 2006 after dating for a while.
The two eventually married in 2007, but they divorced after she accused Tony of cheating on her with Alexandra Paressant, a model, and Erin Barry, wife of his teammate Brent Berry.
Even though Tony denied the allegations, Longoria showed no reconciliation, so their divorce was finalized in 2011.
After the split, he dated the French journalist Axelle Francine before marrying on August 2, 2014. In the April of that same year, Axelle gave birth to their first son, Josh, out of wedlock.
They welcomed their second son, Liam, in 2016. However, his second marriage also could not last long. The couple divorced in 2020.
Now that he is with Lim, they love each other very much and have a good time together.
Both of them have a good relationship with Tony’s kids as well.
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Nightclub Incident
As a well-disciplined man with high morale, Tony usually doesn’t get into controversies, let alone fights.
However, one has to admit that he got unlucky on the night of June 14, 2012.
He had gone to the W.I.P nightclub located in New York to enjoy the late-night concert.
However, a fight broke out between the singers, Drake and Chris Brown, after which the whole place went into a frenzy.
As a result, he sustained a severe injury and had to go through surgery to remove the glass piece that had penetrated near his eyes. It nearly cost him the 2012 Summer Olympics.
However, he became fit to join the team by July 6, 2012.
Social Media Presence
His Instagram handle is @ tonyparker09, his Twitter handle is @tonyparker and his Facebook handle is TonyParker.
