The Spurs may finally be forced to undergo a changing of the guard, but Tony Parker will not give up on his basketball career.
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Despite suffering a quad injury that will likely keep him out until January, Parker, 35, hopes to not only play again, but sign a new contract with the Spurs.
“Mentally, you must be strong to come back from an injury like this,” Parker told French website RMC Sport, translated via NBC Sports. “I do not want people to think it was my last game, that I was not going to come back, because in my head, I will come back.
“I hope that the Spurs will offer me a final contract. I will be entering my final contract year, it will be the first time in my career that I will be free agent. I’ve already said it several times, I want to play three more seasons, do the 20 seasons with the Spurs, and I think it’s two decades. I want to continue to perform well on the floor.”
Parker, who has been a cornerstone in San Antonio's lineup since 2001, is set to make close to $15.5 million next season. His current contract will then end in 2018.
Chris Paul poured gas on already enflamed rumors last week by stating he would consider San Antonio as a possible destination should he choose to leave the Clippers as a free agent this offseason.
Parker's injury leaves San Antonio thin in the backcourt. Even though Gregg Popovich will likely add another young point guard in the this month's draft, like he did with Dejounte Murray last year, the team may want to add another proven veteran to lead the offense.
San Antonio has been a loyal franchise over the years, but they will have to seriously consider letting Parker go after next season. If the team does give Parker the remaining three years he desires, they will still need to bring in a younger starter.
Building around cornerstones Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge should be San Antonio's focus moving forward. But taking care of Parker, one of the franchise's legends, should also be handled with grace.