Tony Parker working to achieve new NBA dream, he has taken advice from Spurs mentor Gregg Popovich

Parker wants to complete a coaching course first

Parker already has the credentials to become an NBA coach. He does not need to take classes to become a coach, like what usually happens in European sports. The French point guard applied for the Diplome d’Entraineur Sportif, which is a coaching diploma program in France.

This is not essential to his NBA coaching future, but he wants to strengthen his knowledge. It is also a valuable experience for coaching that he won’t get in the NBA. His experience under Popovich is valuable, and the longtime coach has a good track record for former players.

“I asked him (Gregg Popovich) for advice, and the Spurs opened the doors to me in January, February, and March, where I was able to observe everything over seven or ten days,” Parker said to L’Equipe.

“I had a long discussion with Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry, who convinced me to do the DES. Because in itself, I don’t need it to coach in the NBA.”

“My dream is to coach in the NBA. But I said to myself, ‘Why not go back to school?’ This year, I’m going to take the DES. I hope I will pass it in May, and then start a coaching career.”

Parker has a promising future as a coach

With his winning pedigree with the Spurs, Parker is already established as a winner. He won multiple championships as the starting point guard who led their offense. As one of the Spurs’ leaders during their success, he can translate that success to coaching.

His running mate, Tim Duncan, has already dipped his toe into coaching. He was part of Popovich’s staff in the past, but has since stepped away from coaching jobs. However, he has stuck around the Spurs organization, as Manu Ginobili has.

Parker might not be a de facto choice for the Spurs in the future, but he is working his way up the coaching ladder. He is on his way to becoming a head coach, but he is taking his time in Europe first.

Mitch Johnson is the Spurs’ long-term head coach, having fully replaced Popovich in 2025. If Parker can work his way up the coaching ladder and prove himself, he could be a candidate to replace Johnson in the future.

That will likely take time, as Johnson has a promising future and a strong staff around him, including a new player development coach in Rashard Lewis.