Best NBA Draft steals of all time: Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
In the 2001 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs took a chance on a 19-year old French professional player with the 28th pick in the draft.
That selection will go down as one of the best value picks of all-time.
As a young guard with some professional experience, Tony Parker came to the Spurs in the 2001-02 NBA season and immediately won the starting point guard spot.
While posting a solid 9.2 points and 4.3 assists per game in his rookie season, Parker helped the Spurs reach the second round of the NBA playoffs.
After that first year Parker’s play continually developed.
In the 2002-03 NBA season — with more experience and an increased role — Parker raised nearly all of his stats from his rookie year. When the playoffs came around, the Spurs would beat each of their opponent in six games and go on to win an NBA title.
It would be the first of four for Parker.
Throughout his career he became a six-time NBA All-Star, a four-time All-NBA team selection and an NBA Finals MVP once in his four championship runs.
While his list of individual accolades aren’t overly impressive, his team success tells another story.
Paired with fellow All-Stars Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, Parker helped the Spurs become arguably the most consistent team in NBA history, reaching the playoffs in each of his 16 years with the Spurs and making it out of the first round in 12 of those 16 trips.
When the average length of an NBA career is around five seasons, Tony Parker is an elite level draft steal with four titles and an 18-year career — and counting — for the 28th pick.