Spurs' Green: Parker wants to 'prove everybody wrong' in injury recovery

Danny Green has been through enough firefights alongside point guard Tony Parker to have an idea of the Frenchman's fortitude, and Parker's work ethic as he recovers from injury has surprised even the San Antonio Spurs wing.

"He's working out like I've never seen him before and I think he's motivated to come back stronger and prove everybody wrong, that he still has it," Green told KSAT's RJ Marquez on Tuesday.

Parker's 2016-17 season ended in May after the 35-year-old ruptured his left quadriceps tendon in a win over the Houston Rockets. The six-time All-Star had upped his points per game from 10.1 in the regular season to 15.9 through eight playoff appearances.

Parker's working on a timeline that should see him return to action in December or January. With Tim Duncan retiring at the end of the 2015-16 campaign, and Argentinian sixth man Manu Ginobili undecided about returning for another season, the Spurs may start their season without a single member of the franchise's legendary Big Three - a prospect that's as strange for Green as anyone.

"I know Tony's going to come back eventually. We don't know what Manu's going to do," Green said. "Obviously, Timmy's not there. It's going to be very different if those three guys aren't there to start the season, which would be a shocker."