MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The first time Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph saw Tony Parker, who was 17 at the time, he wondered if the skinny kid from France was a ball boy who had slipped into a player's game uniform.

“Then I saw him play,” Randolph said, “and I wondered if there was another player in the whole world who was faster changing ends (of the court).”

Conversely, Parker's first look at Randolph was enough to make him believe he would soon be watching in the NBA.

“I couldn't believe a guy built like Zach could have such a soft touch,” Parker said.

It was at the Nike Hoop Summit in Indianapolis in 2000 that Parker made his American debut and Randolph cemented a reputation as a big man with rare skills.

They have been friends ever since, no matter the rivalry of intense playoff matchups, past and present.

“Definitely, we became friends then,” Parker said. “Z-Bo I've been knowing a long time, and I have always watched what he's doing since the Hoop Summit. We always have that little connection.”

But the real connection Parker made in Indianapolis that summer, when he was the best player on a team of young Europeans competing against American high school standouts? It was with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford.

“I asked, 'Who is this guy?' because he scored 20-something points on all the Americans, just sliced them and diced them and nobody knew who he was and nobody cared who he was,” Popovich said. “But he was pretty impressive, so R.C. and I took a closer look.”

Others looked closely, too.

Former NBA vice president of media relations Brian McIntyre had known Parker's father, Tony Parker Sr., when both were at Loyola University in Chicago. McIntyre recalled a visit with basketball executive Dave Gavitt after one Parker showing at the Hoop Summit.

“He knew that I knew Tony's dad,” McIntyre said, “and asked if I might introduce him to Jim O'Brien, who was the coach at Ohio State then. Jim wanted to offer Tony a scholarship, but his dad told Jim he thought Tony was better off to stay in Paris and play pro ball.”

O'Brien wasn't the only college coach impressed enough to offer a scholarship. But Parker's father made it clear his son wouldn't be leaving France just yet.

“I had a lot of offers to go to college, but my dad wanted me to stay in Paris and play professional,” Parker said. “It was a hard decision, but at the end of the day I stayed in Paris, and after one more year, I came to the Spurs.

“I think it's worked out great.”

Things also have worked out nicely for Randolph, a two-time NBA All-Star.

“Tony was the best guard at Hoop Summit, and I was the best big,” he said. “It was great. Me and Tony always have been friends since that; great respect for each other. I was in high school and he was in high school, or whatever, wherever he was playing over there in France.

“We had a chance to hang out together just a little bit. It was all right, and we still remember each other from that day.”

mikemonroe@express-news.net

Twitter: @Monroe_SA