After the game, a 108-93 Hornets win, Parker spoke to media members about the experience of returning to San Antonio for the first time as a visitor and the reception he received from the fans.
“I am drained physically and emotionally,” Parker said, via ESPN. “It as an awesome night, and I just want to thank the fans for the way they reacted tonight. It was unbelievable, and I appreciate it. It was a great memory for me that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
After spending nearly two decades in a Spurs uniform, it was strange for Parker to square off against them.
“I care so much about the Spurs. It was very weird to play against them,” Parker said. “I don’t know if I was nervous. It was a little bit of everything. They [the Hornets] told me before the game they wanted it for me. Then after the game, I was like, ‘Why don’t we play like that every road game? C’mon no excuses.’ I am going to be on them now. The thing for me was before the game — the tribute. And I appreciated all the love. It means a lot.”
Tony Parker on the Hornets win over the Spurs and what it was like to get such a good reaction from the Spurs fans in his return to San Antonio
Parker’s current coach was happy to see the reception that he received in San Antonio.
“I’m really excited for Tony,” James Borrego said. “Just to see him embraced and loved tonight. And he helped us tonight. I think it was a pretty good ending to a fun night.”
Similarly, Parker’s former coach thought that Parker was deserving of the recognition.
“Tony is a wonderful human being,” Gregg Popovich said. “He was a great player for us, and he deserved all of the love that he received. That is for sure.”
Parker finished with 8 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds in 19 minutes of action against the Spurs on Monday night.
Courtesy: CBS Sports
