Tony Parker is today the greatest legend in the history of French basketball, and thanks to him, many French players have been able to live the NBA experience. But what would have become of him if he hadn’t had the chance to touch an orange ball?

If Tony Parker is today a recognized and renowned businessman as well as a successful club president, he will always remain in the legend for his numerous exploits on the court. He knocked down many doors, whether in the NBA or with his national team, and if the league is now also open internationally, it is also thanks to him.

He is a quadruple champion and a centerpiece in a great dynasty, he is the first MVP of the Finals from Europe, he offered the first gold medal in its history to the French team… TP was clearly made for having a ball in his hands, and fortunately, he followed his path with the ambition to achieve great things.

Tony Parker the footballer?

But what would he have done with his life if the orange ball had never been introduced into his daily life. This is a question he answered during a cross interview with David Beckham and Sabrina Ionescu. The leader gave two answers that were rather consistent with his qualities, so we can believe that he would have succeeded in achieving his objectives:

If I had to choose another sport, I would say I would have become a footballer. It’s the number 1 sport in France and I started with that. My first memory was the World Cup in Italy in 1990. I remember all these old players like Totò Schillaci… And if I had to choose a profession outside of sport, I would say architect, because I always liked building.

If he hadn’t been a very, very high level basketball player, Tony Parker thinks he would have had a chance in the world of football or in architecture. On the pitch, he could have used his size to hold up a defense, and his speed would have been perfect for containing opposing attackers. In addition, with his vision of the game, he could have found bright openings in depth.

In terms of architecture, the rigor with which he put the Spurs game on the pitch and with which he managed his teammates could have allowed him to imagine major projects. He has always been square and fair in his decisions, qualities necessarily sought after in the discipline. Well, in the end, he may have chosen the best path.

Tony Parker was made for high-level sport, the proof is that if he had not been a basketball player, he is convinced that he would have turned to football. He could also have been an architect to satisfy his need to always build and imagine.