Milwaukee Bucks: Jabari Parker out for season with torn ACL
By Adam Stocker
Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL for the second time in three years
The Milwaukee Bucks will be without star forward Jabari Parker for the rest of the season. Parker was injured in the Bucks’ game Wednesday against the Miami Heat. Zack Lowe of ESPN is reporting that an MRI confirmed Parker has torn his left ACL for the second time in his three years in the NBA. Parker missed 57 games his rookie season after tearing his ACL.
Parker was having a career year for the Bucks. The former Duke Blue Devil standout was averaging 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season.
The Bucks are 22-29 this season behind the play of Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks’ two young stars are expected to be the cornerstone of the Bucks franchise for years to come. But Parker tearing his ACL again could limit the franchise’s ceiling moving forward.
Bad news: MRI shows JaBari Parker has torn his ACL again, league sources say. Official update from Bucks expected shortly.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) February 9, 2017
Parker re-injuring his surgically repaired knee will cast doubts if he can recover from a second surgery. The injury may prevent Parker from becoming the player many thought he could be as the second overall pick coming out of Duke. Given that Parker is only turning 22 next month, there is a reason to belief that he will have a full recovery.
However, there will always be fear the second knee injury will derail Parker’s career the same way two knee injures diminished the career of former MVP Derrick Rose. Rose first tore his ACL in 2012. After taking a season off to recover, Rose tore his meniscus in November 2013. In his MVP season, Rose averaged 25 points per game. In the seasons following his first knee injury, Rose has never averaged more than 18 points a game.
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Typical ACL injuries take a minimum of nine months recovery. If Parker is able to come back in nine months, he would be able to return right around the start of next season. Parker first tore his ACL in December 2014. After surgery he returned to the court November 4, 2015. Given Parker’s previous recovery timetable, Bucks fans should prepare themselves to be without Parker until January 2018.