Tony Parker Injury: Updates on Spurs Star's Knee and Return
San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker suffered a knee injury in the team's season-opening win against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 25 and hasn't played since. It is uncertain when he will return to action.
Continue for updates.
Latest on Parker's Playing Status
Wednesday, Nov. 9
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told reporters Parker could return this weekend.
Parker Remains Veteran Leader for Spurs
Tim Duncan was the first of San Antonio's Big Three to depart when he retired in July, but 39-year-old Manu Ginobili and Parker will be gone sooner or later.
Popovich has been good about managing his veterans' minutes in the past, and Parker especially has seen his time on the court lessen over the years. Over the previous four seasons, his average minutes per game have fallen steadily. He went from 32.9 minutes per contest in 2012-13 to a career-low 27.5 in 2015-16.
The 34-year-old Frenchman is off to a slow start this season, averaging just 5.5 points, four assists and two rebounds in four games.
Popovich is used to being without Parker for stretches of the regular season. The 16-year veteran hasn't played in more than 72 games since the 2010-11 campaign.
The Spurs coach will look to Patty Mills to take over at the point. This could also be a chance for first-round pick Dejounte Murray to earn a bigger spot in San Antonio's rotation.
The team often has its rookies take a backseat in their first season or two—even reigning Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard was a role player when he entered the league. Murray won't unseat Mills for the starting job in Parker's absence, but he could make a nice impression.
