San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker has been around the NBA since 2001, when he came in as a second-round draft pick. He immediately went into the starting lineups and contributed toward four championships. These teams were among the best in the 2000’s and dominated the Western Conference.
Among the teams, the Spurs didn’t have to contend against in the mid-2000’s was the Los Angeles Lakers, post-Shaquille O’Neal and before Pau Gasol arrived via trade. These teams were led by Kobe Bryant, but without much around him.
A member of Bryant’s supporting cast was Smush Parker, who started 162 games from 2005-07 with the Lakers.