Jabari Parker appeared destined for an extended and profitable NBA profession when he turned the No. 2 general decide within the 2014 draft. We detailed why Parker was such a particular prospect popping out of Chicago’s Simeon Academy highschool again in 2013, and he principally lived as much as the hype throughout his productive one-and-done season at Duke.
The Bucks took him with the second decide within the draft, one spot forward of Joel Embiid and one spot behind Andrew Wiggins, the place he was anticipated to pair with the participant the Bucks drafted one yr earlier, Giannis Antetokounmpo, for an electrical partnership.
Solely 5 years later, Parker’s NBA profession was successfully over. He had endured two torn ACLs, and by no means appeared like the identical participant after the harm. The league he entered modified dramatically after the rise of Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors, with Parker’s isolation scoring rising out of fashion in favor of extra ball motion and three-point heavy assaults. Parker signed a one-year, $20 million cope with his hometown Bulls in 2018, however he didn’t even make it by way of the preseason earlier than shedding his beginning spot. He was traded later that yr. After bouncing round for a cup of espresso with Atlanta, Sacramento, and Boston the following few seasons, he was totally out of the league.
Parker resurfaced this yr, although not within the NBA. He signed with Barcelona and competed within the Spanish league, the place he teamed with former NBA gamers Jan Vesely, Willy Hernangomez, and Tomas Satoransky. Parker had terrific yr that ended this weekend to rival Actual Madrid within the playoffs.
After the season-ending misplaced, Parker was requested to replicate on his first yr enjoying outdoors of the US. He bought too emotional to even reply the query. Watch the video right here:
Parker is 29 years previous. This must be the prime of his NBA profession, when he’s competing for All-Star spots, All-NBA groups, and being a key piece in a push for a championship. As an alternative, the NBA determined they didn’t need him anymore after the accidents, and he’s enjoying in a lower-level league than he ever imagined.
It’s exhausting to look at. Parker has seen his top-5 draft friends like Andrew Wiggins and Aaron Gordon win championships within the NBA. He’s seen his draft mate Joel Embiid signal a four-year, $213 million contract lately. In the meantime, Parker signed a one-year, $2 million cope with Barcelona earlier than the season.
With out the accidents, it’s potential Parker would have been a significant participant on the Bucks’ 2021 championship crew. It’s potential he’d be enjoying on a nine-figure contract. That simply isn’t the way in which his profession labored out, sadly, however there’s no disgrace is enjoying in an excellent Spanish league. For the collection, Parker averaged 18.2 factors and 4 rebounds per sport on 58.3 p.c capturing from the ground, 45.5 p.c capturing from three, and 84.6 p.c capturing from the foul line. He additionally did this:
Parker nonetheless has some good years in basketball forward of him. Who is aware of, perhaps he may even work his manner again into the NBA. Both manner, starring for a membership like Barcelona isn’t a foul final result, even when it isn’t precisely how Parker envisioned his profession would go.
