Basketball legend Tony Parker has lived a life that many of us could only dream of. But while his achievements on and off the basketball court may be wholly different from what most entrepreneurs would be aiming for, he still has a lot of experience and wisdom that could be passed on and be valuable to the rest of us.
The French basketball extraordinaire recently wrote an open letter to his former team, the San Antonio Spurs, where he spent a whopping 17 years of his basketball career. In the letter, Parker discussed how he learned the business of basketball, how much his teammates and coaches meant to him, how he defines success, and the bittersweet feeling of moving to a new city and team.
With four NBA championships, six All-Star appearances, the all-time Spurs leader in assists, and one NBA Finals MVP award, Parker is certainly one of the most successful and respected basketball players of all time. Here’s what you can learn from the man.
Look for business ventures all over the world
Parker was an up-and-coming star in the French basketball league and would undoubtedly have had a modest but happy life in France. However, he had bigger and loftier dreams than that. Without knowing for certain if he could make it in the USA playing basketball, Parker flew to San Antonio for a test with the team. Parker admits that he played badly in the trial, but was thankfully given a second chance and performed much better. In 2001, Parker was taken 28th in the NBA Draft by the Spurs, and clearly it was the right move for everyone involved.
Don’t be afraid to switch things up
In the summer of 2018, many fans and players alike were shocked to hear that Parker had announced his departure from the Spurs in favor of a two-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets; the man just looks out of place in any other uniform than San Antonio. However, after 17 years in the same company, who wouldn’t be ready for a fresh start somewhere else? The Spurs were clearly in a downward phase, and conversely, the Hornets are on their way up, so it’s not hard to see why a change of scenery was necessary.
Know how to take criticism well
Tony Parker often thanks the Spurs coach, Gregg “Pop” Popovich for his unrelenting yet fair method of training. Frequently called a bit heartless and mean, Pop was, in Parker’s eyes, simply very good at telling the truth. Parker has stated that cutting straight to the heart of the problem is the best and easiest solution, and that having someone to tell you exactly what you’re doing wrong can help you to get better – no matter what your goal is. The players who take offense to criticism and who only wish to hear praise will never be the stars of the league.
Snap up opportunities when they come
Whether it’s a marriage to TV star Eva Longoria (which ended after three years), competing for his country in the Olympics and the EuroBasket tournament, or even taking part in the 2018 Tour de France, Parker doesn’t let great prospects slip by him. Furthermore, Parker is a brand ambassador for Swiss luxury watch brand, Tissot, which also sponsors the NBA. Parker’s signature watch, the T-Touch Expert Solar, is one of the most popular models at some online stores.
Surround yourself with encouraging people
In addition to his coach, Parker has always said that it was his supportive teammates which helped him through rough patches. He spoke heavily of Tim Duncan in his open letter, in particular, the way Duncan would lead by example and always make sure to provide guidance to the younger players. An entrepreneur cannot always get by in life on their own and will always require a bit of support from others in tough times, which makes celebrating the great moments all the more amazing.
Despite basketball being a great sport for entrepreneurs to capitalize on, there are so many ways to make money if you simply have the mindset and goals of a player like Tony Parker. Let’s see what you can do.
