Tony Parker Wants To Play 20 Seasons, Join Exclusive Club

Parker is willing to go to another team if it means playing 20 seasons.

San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker remains committed to playing 20 NBA seasons, even if it means leaving the Spurs.

"In my mind, I want to play three more seasons," Parker told SI's Rohan Nadkarni in March. I would love if the Spurs keep me. I would love to play 20 seasons with the Spurs, that’s my dream. I’m a free agent this summer, so I would love to sign three more seasons with the Spurs, and then after that go on with all my different businesses.

Only seven players in NBA history have played at least 20 seasons. Robert Parish, Kevin Willis and Kevin Garnett lead the pack with 21 seasons. Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dirk Nowitzki round out the list at 20 seasons each. 

Parker will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but maintains his preference is to stay in San Antonio.

Parker, 35, averaged 7.7 points, 3.6 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 55 games last season. He lost his starting job to Dejounte Murray in January and averaged just 19.5 minutes per game.

The 17-year-veteran earned $15.4 million last season, but will need to take a pay cut to stay with the team, Spurs general manager R.C. Buford told ESPN.

"We'll see," Parker said in April. "I said already I want to keep playing. I'm happy I don't have those retirement parties. I want to keep playing, and we'll see if it's in San Antonio. Everybody knows I would love to stay here. But free agency is always crazy, so we'll see."

Parker, a six-time NBA All-Star, is the longest-tenured Spurs player and has won four championships in San Antonio.