Dallas Mavericks: Retirement of Tony Parker signals the end of an era

The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs competed in one of the best NBA rivalries for a big part of the 21st century so far. Tony Parker’s retirement signifies the end to that incredible era of basketball.

The rivalry was one for the ages. Featuring two of the greatest to ever play the game, one of the best sixth men of all time and a couple guards that knew how to play their best games in the biggest moments. From 2001 to 2014, the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs put together so many great sports moments, it is hard to keep track of all of them.

As a diehard Mavs fan for as long as I can remember, it was easy to hate Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. These three guys embodied the biggest obstacle the Mavericks had to face each and every year. And more often than not, they were the final team the Mavs saw before going home for the summer.

It was so easy to hate them that it has taken years since the dynasty fell through to fully realize what they meant to the sport of basketball and to the NBA.

I always knew that the road to the NBA Finals was never complete without seeing the Spurs get sent home. Dirk Nowitzki worked his butt off to get the Mavs to the peak of the mountain, yet time and time again the mountain shifted and Dallas had to start from scratch. The 2006 NBA Playoffs were the first time the Mavs broke through the hold that the Spurs had on them.

Although the Spurs may have the advantage in playoff wins, there have been several series that went down to the wire. It is safe to say that there were multiple seasons where the Mavericks represented the biggest hurdle for the Spurs on their way to the NBA Finals. Both teams knew what was at stake when they played each other in April and May.

Although Duncan probably signifies the dynasty a little bit more in the eyes of most Mavs fans, there is no denying what Tony Parker could do on the court. His shiftiness and ability to get to the hoop were 2nd to none and he really was at the top of his game when it mattered the most. He is the last piece to retire from the core of these two teams that fought in the early 2000’s.

As I have grown up, I have learned to recognize that despite being the enemy, San Antonio’s big three was one of the most important units of basketball since the turn of the century. This team proved that every superstar doesn’t have to gain recognition on the national stage, something Dirk picked up very well during his time in the league.

They also showed that it is equally useful to surround your star with an abundance of talent than it is to bring in other superstars. The dynasty that the Spurs created was not based on skill level, but entirely on team building.

The Spurs will always be my enemy, no matter what happens in the future. I respect what they have done, especially with Parker, Ginobili and Duncan, but I can never get myself to support them. I cannot in good conscience root for a Spurs win, but I can easily say congratulations on a great career to Tony Parker.

Who knows what the Mavs could have been if the Spurs hadn’t always been standing in the way, but honestly, it wouldn’t feel right without that rivalry always looming. The era of Dirk vs. Duncan has officially come to a close, but the rivalry remains alive and well. Stay tuned.