Parker has signed with the Toronto Raptors for three years and more than $12 million.
By DAVID MACHLISAnthony Parker 298 88(photo credit: )
Last year, Anthony Parker scored the basket that gave Maccabi Tel Aviv a historic victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Since then, Parker has switched sides and on Thursday night, Toronto was scheduled to count on Parker to help avenge that preseason loss, which was the first time in 27 years that Maccabi Tel Aviv had beaten an NBA team.
Parker, who signed with the Raptors for three years and more than $12 million, returned to the NBA after seven years in the CBA and Europe.
"I think I did a lot of development on and off the court overseas. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything," Parker told the TSN Web site.
Parker was originally drafted in the first round by the New Jersey Nets, then traded to Philadelphia, where he spent two injury-plagued seasons before being shipped to the Orlando Magic.
He had a slight adjustment period in his first four preseason games leading up to the Maccabi game, averaging six points per contest.
Parker is part of a revamped Raptors roster, courtesy of new general manager Brian Colangelo and his assistant, Maurizio Gherardini, who used to work at Benetton Treviso.
There are 11 fresh faces to operate a new run-and-gun style of offense led by lightning-quick point guard TJ Ford. With six players on the roster who have experience in Europe, the question is, will the Raptors be Phoenix East or Europe West?
Both the starting shooting guard and small forward positions are up for grabs and Parker is competing for playing time with Morris Peterson, Joey Graham and the first overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Andrea Bargnani.
Parker is one of a handful of Euroleague stars who have recently decided to try their luck in the NBA, including two former teammates at Maccabi Tel Aviv, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Maceo Baston; current teammates Jose Calderon and Jorge Garbajosa; and Boris Diaw.
