Tony Parker changes offseason regimen: 'I’ll do everything I can to be in shape, like Timmy'

Ordinarily not one for strenuous workouts, Tony Parker has taken a different approach to training this offseason.

He only took three weeks off after the San Antonio Spurs' first-round exit. Since June 1, Parker has been running, lifting, and boxing in preparation of his 15th season.

"Just being on the track, lifting with our strength coach," Parker told Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News. "I do some boxing; it’s fun. I never did a fitness program like that before."

Parker, 33, is modeling his workout so that he can remain effective towards the twilight of his career, much like Tim Duncan has managed to do through his age-39 season.

"I talked a lot with Pop (coach Gregg Popovich) and (general manager) RC (Buford) about what I can do to make sure I finish my career on a high. And so they know I’m committed, and I’ll do everything I can to be in shape, like Timmy. Timmy has been great at the end of his career, changing his preparation. I'll do the same thing."

Parker's main goal is to avoid picking up nagging injuries that have dogged him over the past few seasons. This past season, Parker battled injuries to his hamstring and Achilles, the latter of which hindered his play in the postseason. The former Finals MVP posted modest averages of 10.9 points on 36.3 percent shooting across seven meetings with the Los Angeles Clippers.

"(The hamstring) was the main problem," Parker said. "I never had that in 14 years in the league. It was very weird, like severe. I’ve had little things. But this was severe. For almost three months it bothered me. And then it was the Achilles, and it messed up everything else."

Parker's hope is that he can play basketball for five or six more seasons. He has three more years left on his deal with the Spurs worth an average of $14 million per season.

But in order to stay healthy and stay effective, Parker will have to take measures to preserve his body. With Duncan and Manu Ginobili near retirement, the workload for Parker will only increase from here onwards.