Tony Parker says Dwyane Wade’s respect for him and LeBron James stopped Spurs from talking trash in big finals

Modified at 06:14 GMT on September 27, 2023

Tony Parker was one of the key factors in the San Antonio Spurs becoming a dominant force in the early 2000s. The 2007 NBA Finals MVP, along with Tim Duncan, is the NBA’s gentleman killer. During an episode of “The SKWEEK Show,” Parker opened up about why he and the Spurs never trash talk the Heat.

When talking about the back-to-back finals between the two, Wade said that in previous finals, he had experienced trash talk from his opponents, which helped him a lot. However, in 2013 and 2014, when he met Parker and the Spurs, he kept waiting for his opponents to give him something to cheer him up, but found nothing.

Tony Parker is opening up about why he never trash-talks the Heat, saying it’s out of a healthy dose of fear and respect.

“I have a lot of respect for you guys, a lot of respect for LeBron…I try to have the right amount of fear to play against you guys.”

Parker also said another reason he never talks trash is because Wade is his best player because he is Parker and his brother’s favorite player in the NBA.

When LeBron James joined the Miami Heat in 2010, the rivalry between the Heat and Spurs became a focal point around the league. While the trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh form the main force, the Spurs are building their own army to fight against the powerful Heat.

Tony Parker says his brother mocked him using Dwyane Wade’s name

Parker and Dwyane Wade are both inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. During his induction ceremony, Parker spoke of Wade with great respect, saying that despite being related to Wade, Dwyane was his brother’s favorite player and mocking him by his name:

“We played twice in the NBA Finals, but people don’t know, he was my brother’s favorite player. So every time, he would come to my house, just like Dwayne Wade.”

“Man, can you stop it, you’re my brother. But we won once, so we’re good.”

Wade and Parker met in two consecutive NBA Finals in 2013 and 2014. Miami won in 2013 and the Spurs took home the title in 2014.

In 2007, when the Spurs met LeBron’s Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, they swept the Cavaliers in a seven-game series. Parker was announced as the Finals MVP.