For Spurs’ Parker, All-Star Game was special playing alongside Duncan

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HOUSTON – Sunday was San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker’s fifth All-Star game of his career, and though each experience at the All-Star game has been great for Parker, Sunday was a bit more different because of Parker’s Spurs-affiliated company.

Parker got to play in what could possibly be Tim Duncan’s last All-Star game of his career. After the game, Parker spoke about what it was like to spend the weekend with not only Duncan, but Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, and the rest of the coaching staff.

“(It was) Awesome,” said Parker of getting to play alongside Duncan, “that’s why I was happy when he got selected.”

“I was more happy for him than for me.” continued Parker after the game. “It was nice to spend the whole weekend with him, the whole coaching staff, (and) Coach Pop. It was great.”

Duncan, a 14-time All-Star, now 36, has been playing incredibly well this season, but last season when Duncan missed the All-Star game was Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sportsevidence that the power forward may or may not be in New Orleans for the 2014 All-Star game.

Making the All-Star team is never a lock, especially with young big men on the rise in the West like New Orleans Hornets Anthony Davis and the ever changing shifting of stars in different conferences with trades and free agency.

If you watched the All-Star game, you might have seen Duncan sporting some very bright lime green shoes. I asked Parker after the game if San Antonio fans might see those shoes back in the AT&T Center anytime soon and this was his response.

 “No,” said a laughing Parker, “I think it’ll be the only time you see those crazy shoes.”

With the Spurs having already completed 54 games this season, they resume their final 28 games before the playoffs by tipping off in Sacramento tonight. According to Parker, there’s one main factor the team is focusing on in these final 28 games.

“Stay healthy,” said Parker, “that’s the key for us.”