Warriors’ Quinn Cook discusses guarding his childhood idol, Tony Parker
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Photo: Tom Reel / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Image 1 of 7 Tony Parker spins and gets in front of Quinn Cook in the second half the Spurs host Golden State in game 4 of the first round of Western Conference NBA playoffs at the AT&T Center on April 22, 2018. Tony Parker spins and gets in front of Quinn Cook in the second half the Spurs host Golden State in game 4 of the first round of Western Conference NBA playoffs at the AT&T Center on April 22, 2018. Photo: Tom Reel / San Antonio Express-News Image 2 of 7 San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) shoots around Golden State Warriors forward David West (3) during first half action of Game 4 Sunday April 22, 2018 at the AT&T Center. San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) shoots around Golden State Warriors forward David West (3) during first half action of Game 4 Sunday April 22, 2018 at the AT&T Center. Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News Image 3 of 7 San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) drives around Golden State Warriors guard Quinn Cook (4) during first half action Thursday April 19, 2018 at the AT&T Center. San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) drives around Golden State Warriors guard Quinn Cook (4) during first half action Thursday April 19, 2018 at the AT&T Center. Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News Image 4 of 7 San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, April 11, 2018. The Pelicans won 122-98. (AP Photo/Scott Threlkeld) less San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, April 11, 2018. The Pelicans won ... more Photo: Scott Threlkeld, Associated Press Image 5 of 7 Image 6 of 7 Golden State Warriors 'Stephen Curry and Quinn Cook enjoy 4th quarter during Warriors' 117-106 win over Los Angeles Lakers in NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Golden State Warriors 'Stephen Curry and Quinn Cook enjoy 4th quarter during Warriors' 117-106 win over Los Angeles Lakers in NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Image 7 of 7 Warriors’ Quinn Cook discusses guarding his childhood idol, Tony Parker 1 / 7 Back to Gallery
Long before he learned he would play San Antonio in his first career playoff series, Warriors point guard Quinn Cook studied Tony Parker.
It was through a 15-minute segment on one of his "Ankle Breakers" DVDs that Cook first became fascinated by Parker. As he watched the video on repeat, Cook was amazed at how a 6-foot-2, 185-pound point guard with so-so athleticism could maximize angles for such devastating drives to the basket.
Now, fresh off signing a two-year guaranteed deal with Golden State, Cook credits Parker for his signature spin move. Having an encyclopedic understanding of Parker’s tendencies has only helped Cook in the first round. Multiple times while defending his childhood idol, Cook has known what Parker was going to do before he did it.
Recognizing how to stop a future Hall of Famer, however, is far easier than actually stopping one.
Late in the first quarter of the Warriors’ Game 4 loss Sunday to the Spurs, Parker stopped at the top of the arc, curled hard off a LaMarcus Aldridge screen to create distance from Cook and weaved through the key for a reverse layup. Midway through the second, after Parker crossed him over, bulldozed through the lane and tossed in a left-handed layup over his outstretched arm, Cook could only shake his head as he ran back on offense.
"For him to be so good this late in his career says a lot about him," Cook said. "He’s so smart. I can’t imagine guarding him 10 years ago."
Cook was 8 when San Antonio selected Parker — a little-known, 19-year-old prospect from the French League — with the 28th pick of the 2001 NBA Draft. Two years later, Cook — a diehard Lakers fan — cried after Parker scored 27 points to help lead the Spurs to a series-clinching win over Los Angeles in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.
At age 35 and in his 17th NBA season, Parker is hardly the spry All-Star who once helped a young Cook — another diminutive point guard with middling athleticism — believe he could reach the NBA. Parker averaged career-lows this season in points (7.7), assists (3.5) and rebounds (1.7). With the Spurs’ future in flux in the wake of reports that Kawhi Leonard’s relationship with the organization has become toxic, many wonder whether Parker and the 40-year-old Manu Ginobili will retire this summer.
This much is certain: Long after they play their final NBA games, the legacy of Parker and Ginobili will be seen in the playing styles of the league’s newest generation of playmakers.
"It’s so cool playing against these guys on a nightly basis," said Cook, who still has that "Ankle Breakers" DVD on his iTunes. "Going back there with Tony and you see (Gregg Popovich) over there, and Manu, it’s a cool experience."
Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron