I wasn't aware of that but I'll take your word. All I heard was that someone had to convince Popovich to draft him. Maybe they just needed to convince him to give Parker a 2nd look. Either way, I don't think anybody believed Parker would turn out to be this good at the time. He improved a lot in a lot of areas over the years.
Here's a story about it: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_52_225/ai_81891447/ You're right but it actually looks like by the time Parker was in predraft camp, Popovich was already sold. Initially, Buford had to sell the idea to Popovich though. Once Popovich saw some film, he understood why Buford was high on Parker. Gregg Popovich didn't want to hear about it. The whole idea seemed absurd on its face. Already, the Spurs coach and general manager had stared bleary-eyed at a few miles of videotape in preparation for the 2001 NBA draft, and now assistant general manager R.C. Buford wanted him to take a look at ... a French point guard? A 19-year-old French point guard? "If he's a three man, and he's got a `vich' at the end of his name, I'll go look atone of my countrymen," Popovich recalls. "But I'm not looking at some French point guard. Give me a break." Popovich knows his NBA history. Big men come from Europe and find niches here and there. Shooting guards make a mark from time to time, too. Point guards? They tend to come and go quickly, lost in translation between the highly structured European game and the shake-and-bake ways of the American version. Still, here was Buford, insisting this kid--born in Belgium, reared in France, son of a shooting guard from Chicago--was different. So Popovich sat down and watched Tony Parker perform against a team of American college all-stars. And what to his wondering eyes should appear? "He was the leading scorer and assist man for the European team, and the Americans couldn't stop the kid. I said, `Well, I just saw that with my own eyes, so it's true.'"
Per Wiki on the predraft camp: [rquoter]Prior to the 2001 NBA Draft, Parker was invited to the San Antonio Spurs summer camp. Parker's first experiences were daunting as coach Gregg Popovich had him play against Spurs scout and ex-NBA player Lance Blanks. Parker was so overwhelmed by Blank's tough and physical defense that Popovich was ready to send him away after just 10 minutes.[12] But after seeing a "best of" mix tape of Parker's best plays, Popovich decided to invite Parker a second time.[10] This time, Parker made a better impression against Blanks; the Frenchman later described Blanks as a "one-man wrecking crew".[12] But while Popovich decided that Parker was worth the gamble, the Spurs still had to hope that other teams would not pick Parker during the draft. As it were, Parker's name was barely mentioned in the pre-draft predictions and the point guard was drafted 28th overall by the Spurs on draft day.[/rquoter] [rquoter]"...when we gave him his first workout, we didn't think he was tough enough – and we sent him home. And then we set up another interview, another workout... and he was fantastic in that one." —-Gregg Popovich, after the 2007 championship[/rquoter]
I wasn't disagreeing with you. I was wrong in my thinking that Popovich was against drafting Parker at the time of the draft. Popovich was initially against the concept of drafting a young PG out of France but that was before seeing film. I'm not sure that what you posted from Wiki discredits the article from the link I posted above or if that is even what you are suggesting. The article I linked to may even discuss that same stuff. It's a 5-page article and I only read the first page. The Wiki entry may be complementary to that article. From what I can tell, the section I posted discusses a point in time well before the first workout. Parker wasn't even on Popovich's radar until Buford made the suggestion and urged him to take a look. It sounds like Buford then encouraged him to watch some tape and Popovich did this before the first workout. What I am reading from your Wiki post makes it sound like Popovich went through two periods of doubt about Parker, one before he had ever seen him play at all and another one after the first workout.
Your article only had this blurb on the predraft camp: [rquoter]Popovich saw the effect Parker could have on film, but what he observed when Parker came in for a predraft workout was even more impressive. "He's a tough kid," the coach says. "If you get a kid who adds that toughness to his skills, that's a giant leap forward."[/rquoter] Half of page 3 and onward talked about Pau Gasol and the upcoming international players (article dated 2001 written by Bill Sullivan) interesting take on players we have and had: [rquoter]1. C Yao Ming, 7-4, 270 (China), Shanghai Oriental Sharks (Chinese League). Very tall, very graceful and strong enough--with a complete inside-outside game. The best player in the draft if Duke's Jason Williams isn't. Many international observers see a young, lean, unstoppable Arvydas Sabonis. 2. G/F Bostjan Nachbar, 6-8, 190 (Slovenia), Benetton Treviso (Euroleague, Italian League). An outstanding athlete, but must gain weight. Already an accomplished ballhandler, jump-shooter and ferocious finisher on the break. 5. PF Luis Scola, 6-9, 230 (Argentina), Tau Vitoria (Euroleague, Spanish League). A wily low-post player with all the moves. Has a better midrange jumper than Gasol, but not as quick or as effective as a shot blocker.[/rquoter] 2 out of 3 ain't bad
Brooks isnt any kind of marked improvement over Rafer at all on offense. Still worth pointing out Brooks being in funk, learning on the job being hestitant and timid is still slightly better on FG%, on FT% by 10%, and on 3 point % this year than Rafer busting his butt, giving it his all maximizing every morsel of his effort Luther head shot .441 from 3 pt his 2nd year, impressive. Still in Brook's 2nd year, overall Brooks is averaging more points a game and out-assisting Luther Head in less minutes. Perhaps Brooks playing in Oregon where he played his college ball will make him want to play well.
