Tony Parker has set his sights on a new chapter in basketball. The four-time NBA champion told L’Equipe that his long-term ambition is to become a head coach in the league.
The former San Antonio Spurs guard said his inspiration came after conversations with his longtime coach Gregg Popovich last fall. Parker observed Spurs practices earlier this year and noted that the experience reignited his passion for being on the court.
He explained that advice from French football icons Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry also helped push him toward coaching. Both urged him to pursue the French DES diploma, which he is currently working to complete.
Parker stressed that while the certification is not required to coach in the NBA, he wanted to prepare himself as thoroughly as possible. He added that he plans to take the exam in May with the hope of officially starting a coaching career soon after.
“I’m not closing any doors,” Parker told L’Equipe. “There’s the NBA, the NBA Europe that’s coming up. For now, I’m telling myself: I’m going to get my diploma and we’ll see in May, depending on the opportunities.”
The 43-year-old is widely regarded as one of the greatest international guards in NBA history. He played 17 seasons with the Spurs, winning championships in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named NBA Finals MVP in 2007.
Since retiring in 2019, Parker has remained active in basketball as the president of French club ASVEL. Under his leadership, the team competed in both the French league and EuroLeague.
Still, Parker admitted his ultimate goal lies across the Atlantic. “The dream is to be a head coach one day in the NBA,” he said. “I’ve always dreamed big.”
Parker confirmed that he has already received interest from clubs but chose to focus first on completing his coaching education. His experience, combined with his close ties to Popovich and the Spurs organization, could open pathways to an eventual role on an NBA bench.
If Parker does make the transition, he would join a small but growing list of former European players taking leadership roles in the NBA. His résumé as a player and executive ensures he will be closely watched as he moves into this next phase.
