What could’ve been: Parker as a Bruin

Tony ParkerMost San Antonio Spurs fans know about Tony Parker’s journey to the NBA, being selected as a little-known 19-year old point guard from Paris Basket Racing in the 2001 NBA Draft.

But as the 2012 NCAA Tournament starts today with the first four, one has to wonder what college teams Parker was considering playing for if he chose to forgo the NBA for a few years.

Luckily for us, Parker answered that question over Twitter recently.

A:  I would’ve gone to UCLA

A year or two with the Bruins would likely have been all it would’ve taken to turn Parker from a late first round pick to a lottery selection and out of the Spurs’ reach.

If the Spurs were still looking for a point guard in that draft, Gilbert Arenas, Omar Cook, Will Solomon and Earl Watson were still left on the board.
 
Now having a career year in his tenth season and involved in MVP talks, I’m sure Spurs fans are glad Parker passed up his chance at  “one shining moment” to become an NBA champion in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

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