Having enjoyed an illustrious career marked by multiple championships and accolades, Tony Parker’s vast experience has given him a keen eye for talent. Now, the San Antonio Spurs legend has weighed in on who he thinks will dominate the NBA in the near future.
During an appearance on the Knuckleheads podcast, Parker spoke highly of his fellow countryman, Victor Wembanyama. “The way he carries himself—he’s just unbelievable. His rookie season was unbelievable. His second year has been amazing so far, and I think he should be an All-Star,” he said. “And I think in two years, yeah, I think he’s going to be the best player in the NBA.”
While their playing styles differ significantly, both Parker and Wembanyama share more than just nationality. Both Frenchmen entered the NBA at 19, joining the Spurs at pivotal moments in the franchise’s history.
“I’m so proud of him. You know, seeing him as a kid and going through ASVEL—you know, my team—he won a championship in France with ASVEL,” Parker said. “To see him, like—it was destiny to go to San Antonio and the Spurs.”
![Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after a basket against the Los Angeles Clippers.](https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20250130_BUS_324467_victor-wembanyama-1024x576_13ed773a.webp&width=1024&height=576)
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after a basket against the Los Angeles Clippers.
A new era for San Antonio Spurs
Parker believes Wembanyama is poised to lead the Spurs into a new era, following in the footsteps of previous legendary big men. “I think we’re very lucky, and we should appreciate that in San Antonio. Like—after David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and now Victor—it’s crazy. The tradition of big men with the Spurs—and I hope he’s going to bring us a lot of championships,” Tony said.
Parker fondly recalled Robinson’s impact on the Spurs, noting the success the franchise enjoyed in the late ’90s and early 2000s with titles in 1999 and 2003. Duncan, who came up while David was still playing, continued the winning legacy after Robinson’s retirement. Now, with Duncan gone since 2016, the responsibility is shifting to Wembanyama.
“You know, we’ve been losing the last five, six seasons since the ‘Big Three’ (Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili) left,” the former guard reflected. “And so, I hope he can bring back the Spurs —You know, winning, in the winning ways — And try to contend for championships.”
Parker’s hopes for France
Parker’s confidence in Wembanyama extends beyond the Spurs, as he also has high hopes for the future of French basketball. “For Victor and for France, it was already nice to play in the Olympic finals to get a silver medal,” he said. “When I see the new generation like Victor and all the players who were at that team, I think we can be very proud as French people.”
![NBA News: Spurs legend Tony Parker reveals his All-Time starting five of former teammates](https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20250129_BUS_324413_tony-parker.webp&width=200&height=200)
see also
NBA News: Spurs legend Tony Parker reveals his All-Time starting five of former teammates
Looking ahead, Parker is optimistic about France’s future on the global basketball stage: “I think it’s the first step because we’re going to keep competing against the U.S. because we have like 10 plus French guys in the NBA and I think in 2028, I hope USA is ready because we’re coming.“