For the second time in his young career, Jabari Parker is working his way back after tearing his ACL last season. While we’ll have to wait to see him back in action, what can he offer the Milwaukee Bucks when he does return this coming year?
When it comes to the status of Jabari Parker, the feeling has become all too familiar for the Milwaukee Bucks and for their fans alike.
As it stands, Parker is in the middle of his second rehabilitation after having torn his left ACL for the second time in three years midway through the season last year. From all accounts, the team are targeting a February return date at the earliest.
Not only does the injury hinder Parker’s personal development once again, it also comes at a crossroads in his career since he’s set to be a restricted free agent next summer.
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As David Aldridge of NBA.com wrote this week in his piece covering potential rookie extensions, it stands as an unlikely possibility that both sides come to a deal before the rookie extension deadline this coming Monday night:
"“Tough call for Milwaukee. Parker’s talent is obvious and he could be a major pillar of the Bucks’ core with Giannis Antetokounmpo going forward. But Parker’s coming off a second ACL injury, suffered last year, and isn’t expected back until February. Milwaukee could re-route some of the combined $29 million it’s paying Greg Monroe and John Henson this season to Parker, but this one is going down to the wire. Right now, the lean is to no deal.”"
With that to set the stage, there’s a lot riding on the table for the Chicago native this year. In what will be an abbreviated season, Parker will have to prove that his athleticism and explosiveness still remain intact through his second knee injury and will have to quickly get back up to speed within a Bucks team that’s aiming for greater aspirations.
That’s obviously assuming Parker clears all the obstacles that still stand in the way in his recovery as well as not taking into account the restrictions that will likely be in place once he does return a few months from this point.
So without further ado, let’s take a deeper look at what Parker has to offer, where he fits upon returning and much more.