Anthony Parker, the best ever player in EL

[Roy M]

had retired in age of 37.
Three EL titles, many MVP games and lot of big moments....

[Turkish Airlines Euroleague]

Top player, but not the best ever played in EL.

[madmax]

"the best ever" in Euroleague?
This very much sounds like a statement from an american NBA fan, who knows nothing about euro ball otherwise...he wasn't even a leader of those Maccabi teams to begin with - Sharas was. Ace player and and very good scorer anyway

[goga78]

With all due you respect to Saras, Parker was clearly the most stable player of his team and it's leader. Sara's had a lot of ups and downs, especially in the beginning. He was even relegated to the bench. He was the main reason for MTA conceding so many three-pointers. Saras was clutch however but so was AP. he delivered an amazing all-round performance in every game. When the opponent had a good PG defender, Parker and Burstein were bringing the ball up, not Jasikevicius. In five seasons with Parker, MTA has reached five Final Fours, four title games and three titles. Their own coach, Pini Gershon, has clearly put Parker on the first place, him being the main reason for MTA playing for the title every year. Saras was hyper important, especially for the fans. A unique leader with cojones made out of steel. But it was ultimately Parker's team.

As to the all-time best, it is very tough to compare players and their importance. However, there is just one player who can be put up top with Parker - Bodiroga. However, Bodiroga' style of play was sometimes harming his teammates (see Saras). Parker's contribution came with the flow of the game. He never forced things, always developed his game. He was a top-notch shooter, a great slasher, very athletic, always in control, very unselfish, a good defender. The European Ginobili was not on the same level but he also hardly played on this level, going to the NBA quite early. Niue was too old and playing in a weaker competition, same with McAdoo. Galis was playing in a weak competition putting up huge numbers for mediocre or good teams, nevertheless scratching the throne. Navarro always depended on great teammates, never being a great playmaker, much less a defender. Scola was great but always failed against Parker's teams. Kirilenko has played just two seasons in the EL, being very young once and the league's clearly best player then, conceding the final to a vastly worse team that lost to CSKA twice big time but showing more determination in the most important game of the season. With all my sympathies to this year's Olympiacos, they are clearly the weakest EL winner since an eternity.

[rocketstar47]

Anthony Parker is my idol even he didnt make an impact in the NBA
he is the best American to play outside US.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

To me, his transition from his first years in Maccabi and later in Roma to his last few years in Maccabi was phenomenal. At first he was just an US SG/SF with potential like many others, but later somehow calmed down, became more rational and started playing on a star level. In that period he'd make a pretty good impact in an NBA team if given a chance. Just another example of a widely accepted theory that US college players need few years (some less, some others more) before switching to euro mentality, to euro coaches and whole different game.
Returning to NBA through back door also is something not everyone can do.

This one was one of my favourites as I remember we've just been having some of those old euro vs NBA debates here (or maybee it was some other forum) when he knocked that one, well... he made my day

[pohani komarac]

to me he was main force of maccabi, bit over sars because he was their main creator

but best of all time? he neve come close to domination of kukoc or bodiroga, neither he ever had seasons like petrovic, manu or nique....then there are guys like, sabonis, danilovic, fucka, djordjevic, papaloukas, navarro, gallis etc...who all have their atributes to be among greatest ever in EL basketball

but yeah, he goes down as one of gratest ever. best luck for him

[Olympiacos]

Wait, the best Euroleague player ever? You are just joking right?

With all due you respect to Saras, Parker was clearly the most stable player of his team and it's leader. Sara's had a lot of ups and downs, especially in the beginning. He was even relegated to the bench. He was the main reason for MTA conceding so many three-pointers. Saras was clutch however but so was AP. he delivered an amazing all-round performance in every game. When the opponent had a good PG defender, Parker and Burstein were bringing the ball up, not Jasikevicius. In five seasons with Parker, MTA has reached five Final Fours, four title games and three titles. Their own coach, Pini Gershon, has clearly put Parker on the first place, him being the main reason for MTA playing for the title every year. Saras was hyper important, especially for the fans. A unique leader with cojones made out of steel. But it was ultimately Parker's team.

As to the all-time best, it is very tough to compare players and their importance. However, there is just one player who can be put up top with Parker - Bodiroga. However, Bodiroga' style of play was sometimes harming his teammates (see Saras). Parker's contribution came with the flow of the game. He never forced things, always developed his game. He was a top-notch shooter, a great slasher, very athletic, always in control, very unselfish, a good defender. The European Ginobili was not on the same level but he also hardly played on this level, going to the NBA quite early. Niue was too old and playing in a weaker competition, same with McAdoo. Galis was playing in a weak competition putting up huge numbers for mediocre or good teams, nevertheless scratching the throne. Navarro always depended on great teammates, never being a great playmaker, much less a defender. Scola was great but always failed against Parker's teams. Kirilenko has played just two seasons in the EL, being very young once and the league's clearly best player then, conceding the final to a vastly worse team that lost to CSKA twice big time but showing more determination in the most important game of the season. With all my sympathies to this year's Olympiacos, they are clearly the weakest EL winner since an eternity.

I hate to break it to you, but every single player you mentioned was better than Parker.

Anthony Parker is my idol even he didnt make an impact in the NBA
he is the best American to play outside US.

He started in the NBA for 6 seasons, and was the starter in conference finals. It's wrong to say he had no impact.

He's also not the best American to play outside the USA?

Seriously........what in the world is going on in this thread?

McAdoo
Galis
Wilkins
Scott

I am sure I am forgetting a bunch.

to me he was main force of maccabi, bit over sars because he was their main creator

but best of all time? he neve come close to domination of kukoc or bodiroga, neither he ever had seasons like petrovic, manu or nique....then there are guys like, sabonis, danilovic, fucka, djordjevic, papaloukas, navarro, gallis etc...who all have their atributes to be among greatest ever in EL basketball

but yeah, he goes down as one of gratest ever. best luck for him

I don't think he is even in the discussion of best Euroleague player ever. No knock on Parker, but come on guys.........this is some serous and ridiculous overrating of him here.

[Picek]

LOL at the name of topic.. pure plain lol..

[turk-jugoslav]

Bodiroga carried every team that he played to final four.Gallis was a beast.Sabonis,Kukoc,Papaloukas,Diamantidis... He is definetely one of the best players in European competition history but I cannot say that he was the best...

[madmax]

With all due you respect to Saras, Parker was clearly the most stable player of his team and it's leader. Sara's had a lot of ups and downs, especially in the beginning. He was even relegated to the bench. He was the main reason for MTA conceding so many three-pointers. Saras was clutch however but so was AP. he delivered an amazing all-round performance in every game. When the opponent had a good PG defender, Parker and Burstein were bringing the ball up, not Jasikevicius. In five seasons with Parker, MTA has reached five Final Fours, four title games and three titles. Their own coach, Pini Gershon, has clearly put Parker on the first place, him being the main reason for MTA playing for the title every year. Saras was hyper important, especially for the fans. A unique leader with cojones made out of steel. But it was ultimately Parker's team.

As to the all-time best, it is very tough to compare players and their importance. However, there is just one player who can be put up top with Parker - Bodiroga. However, Bodiroga' style of play was sometimes harming his teammates (see Saras). Parker's contribution came with the flow of the game. He never forced things, always developed his game. He was a top-notch shooter, a great slasher, very athletic, always in control, very unselfish, a good defender. The European Ginobili was not on the same level but he also hardly played on this level, going to the NBA quite early. Niue was too old and playing in a weaker competition, same with McAdoo. Galis was playing in a weak competition putting up huge numbers for mediocre or good teams, nevertheless scratching the throne. Navarro always depended on great teammates, never being a great playmaker, much less a defender. Scola was great but always failed against Parker's teams. Kirilenko has played just two seasons in the EL, being very young once and the league's clearly best player then, conceding the final to a vastly worse team that lost to CSKA twice big time but showing more determination in the most important game of the season. With all my sympathies to this year's Olympiacos, they are clearly the weakest EL winner since an eternity.

I pretty much agree with everything you said here, but the reason why I believe Sharas was a true leader of those Maccabi teams is that he always raised his level in elimination or championship games. If you watched that team play during those years (in the mid 00's), Parker was the most consistent player, while Sharas had the best and most impressive games when it mattered the most (not like AP was bad either, but you get my point). And as for "the best ever" claim, the likes of Bodiroga, Sabonis, Petrovic, Kukoc or even Galis were much better individual players than him...I don't really think it's arguable either

[Roy M]

Maybe I should write it "the best non-Europian player in the EL" it would fit.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

McAdoo, Scott, Dominique, George Gervin (might not play in EL not sure), domination of David Rivers, Conrad McRae (okay he doesn't have the titles,), Alphonso Ford in times of biggest US quality dominance... Parker was a great player, but no matter how desperately some will try, he imo doesn't make it as a clear no.1 on any of those lists.

[Dreamcatcher]

Maybe I should write it "the best non-Europian player in the EL" it would fit.

No, you did what you needed - to make the thread popular.

[Olympiacos]

Maybe I should write it "the best non-Europian player in the EL" it would fit.

Wilkins
McAdoo
Ford
Rivers

I am probably forgetting some guys. Even if we go back to the earlier times there are guys like Bob Morse and Wayne Brabender.

Would Parker be the best non-European from Maccabi? What about Berkovich?

[MaccabiTA]

Wilkins
McAdoo
Ford
Rivers

I am probably forgetting some guys. Even if we go back to the earlier times there are guys like Bob Morse and Wayne Brabender.

Would Parker be the best non-European from Maccabi? What about Berkovich?

Who? 1979 Eurobasket MVP? obviously not a European but since Israeli basketball is part of European basketball and not Asian basketball it's a weird case.

Parker isn't the best player in Europe ever, probably not the best American in Europe ever (for younger Maccabi fans, like me, he is without a doubt though ) but I do believe he's the best American in modern Euroleagu era (ULEB euroleague) and top 3 in general in ULEB Euroleague era and not necessarily 3rd..
I mean everybody was amazed by what Kirilenko did this season, Parker was as dominant for a few seasons and he actually won the Euroleague in the end of some of these seasons
the title is a bad choice, it should be a farewell thread from one of the best and most fun-to-watch players that played in the Euroleague. (whether you think he was the best or only one of the top 20 I think we would all agree he is up there) not another argument about who was the best player, best American and other random things. (and yes I also got in this discussion )

[Olympiacos]

Parker isn't the best player in Europe ever, probably not the best American in Europe ever (for younger Maccabi fans, like me, he is without a doubt though ) but I do believe he's the best American in modern Euroleagu era (ULEB euroleague) and top 3 in general in ULEB Euroleague era and not necessarily 3rd..
I mean everybody was amazed by what Kirilenko did this season, Parker was as dominant for a few seasons and he actually won the Euroleague in the end of some of these seasons
the title is a bad choice, it should be a farewell thread from one of the best and most fun-to-watch players that played in the Euroleague. (whether you think he was the best or only one of the top 20 I think we would all agree he is up there) not another argument about who was the best player, best American and other random things. (and yes I also got in this discussion )

For me, I personally think Langdon was better. But I won't argue with anyone that thinks Parker was better, due to that he did win Euroleague twice (and the split year tournament).

[MaccabiTA]

For me, I personally think Langdon was better. But I won't argue with anyone that thinks Parker was better, due to that he did win Euroleague twice (and the split year tournament).

Langdon? Better than Parker?! Parker is a much more versatile player and even the thing that Langdon does best (or the only thing he did to be more exact) Parker was doing at the same level, maybe even better.
Langdon was a great shooter but I can't see how he's anywhere near Parker's dominance and versatility.

[Olympiacos]

Langdon? Better than Parker?! Parker is a much more versatile player and even the thing that Langdon does best (or the only thing he did to be more exact) Parker was doing at the same level, maybe even better.
Langdon was a great shooter but I can't see how he's anywhere near Parker's dominance and versatility.

Langdon was a lot better team defender IMO. Offensively, I don't think Parker was better, other than passing and ball handling.

Parker was certainly a better all around player, no denying that. But I would rather have Langdon in my team. Due to his ability to score without needing the ball, to spread the floor, his team defense, and how he could fit into any team, any scheme, any system.

[MaccabiTA]

Langdon was a lot better team defender IMO. Offensively, I don't think Parker was better, other than passing and ball handling.

Parker was certainly a better all around player, no denying that. But I would rather have Langdon in my team. Due to his ability to score without needing the ball, to spread the floor, his team defense, and how he could fit into any team, any scheme, any system.

Parker was just as good of a shooter % wise and did it with higher scoring average in his euroleague career, he was also better finisher around the rim.
Way better when it comes to feeding his teammates and a much better rebounder than Langdon was too.
Basically he was better than Langdon in every single parameter.