Parker says his quad injury was '100 times worse' than Kawhi's

After reportedly leading a players-only meeting on March 17 to discuss topics including the return of Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs veteran Tony Parker spoke about the small forward's injury at shootaround on Friday, comparing it to his own experience.

"I've been through it," Parker told reporters, according to San Antonio Express-News' Tom Orsborn. "It was a rehab for me for eight months. Same kind of injury, but mine was a hundred times worse, but the same kind of injury. You just stay positive."

Leonard has missed all but nine games this season while battling through a lingering quadriceps injury.

Parker tore his quadriceps tendon in the second round of the playoffs last season but was able to recover in time for a late-November season debut, in part due to his decisive move to undergo surgery with the Spurs' doctors, he said.

"For me, it was a no-brainer to do the surgery with them," he said. "So when I had my injury, forty-eight hours (later) I was in surgery. I didn't take two weeks and go through options. For me, it was a no-brainer because I feel like we have the best medical team in the world."

Last Saturday's players-only meeting has been described as both intense and emotional, and calm and mature, with some players saying the gathering was about more than Leonard's return.