San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker is not only an ace in the NBA, he is fast becoming a style icon back home in France [Images], where his dazzling career started eight years ago.

"He is definitely one of the most popular sportsmen in France, even if people don't necessarily know which club he plays for," said French writer Xavier Colombani, a basketball specialist.

"The way he talks, his passion for video games and his American culture have made him the young people's favourite.

"He now has his own radio show and features in several advertising campaigns in France."

The son of an American former player, also Tony Parker, the Belgium-born Parker grew up in France and started his professional career at Paris St Germain.

Already an international player, Parker won the under-18 European championship with France and was voted the tournament's most valuable player.

After a disappointing second season with PSG, he was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round (28th pick overall) of the 2001 NBA draft.

"It is the team I wanted to go to. They are among the best three squads in the NBA," he said at the time.

RECORD BREAKER

At 19, Parker became the youngest man in Spurs' history to play a regular season game.

In his first season, he scored an average of 9.2 points, 4.3 assists and 2.1 rebounds before bursting into the limelight the following term with 15.5 points and 5.3 assists per game.

Often compared to experienced all-star Jason Kidd, he outplayed the New Jersey guard in the first games of the NBA final in 2003.

At the age of 21, Parker became the youngest starting point guard to win an NBA title since Magic Johnson in 1980.

Parker has pace, confidence and an outstanding vision of the game.

"I know I should not say this, but everything seems easy to me," he said after scoring 19 points, delivering 10 assists and grabbing eight rebounds in a 94-92 away win over the Cleveland Cavaliers last month.

Parker has extended his contract with the Spurs until 2011 after signing a 66-million-dollar deal, making him France's best-paid sportsman.

However, Parker has yet to become an all-star player.

He has been omitted from this year's all-star game in favour of team mate Manu Ginobili, who has the advantage of being more spectacular, if less influential.

BIG SHOTS

"I cannot understand why such a player has not been picked," said Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy.

"I know many good players have been omitted but Parker is the point guard of the team with the best record. I don't understand because he is very, very, very good."

Parker has been named by USA Today NBA specialist David DuPree as "the most underrated player in the NBA".

"Parker runs the show," he wrote in a column in January.

"He became the starting point guard as a teenager. During the last three seasons the Spurs have won more games than any other team in the league, in large part because of Parker.

"He makes big shots, runs the screen-and-roll play with Duncan as well as any two players in the league and is a fearless competitor at 6-2 and 175 pounds."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is a great admirer. "You don't become a leader overnight. You are a leader or you are not," Popovich said.

"Tony understands what we expect from him. He's been asked a lot since he's started but he has now become the guard we wanted him to be."