Fansided

25-under-25: The best of the rest

By Philip Rossman-Reich

MILWAUKEE, WI - FEBRUARY 29: Jabari Parker #12 drives to the basket and throws the ball off the backboard for Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 29, 2016 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - FEBRUARY 29: Jabari Parker #12 drives to the basket and throws the ball off the backboard for Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 29, 2016 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks
MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 26: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the hoop on Roy Hibbert #55 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center on October 26, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) /

33. Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks

Jabari Parker was supposed to change the world. Coming out of Simeon High School in Chicago and Duke in college, he was the consensus best player in the country. Even after he went second in the 2014 NBA Draft, Parker was still the guy everyone watched and waited for. Pairing him with Giannis Antetokounmpo only increased the anticipation.

Parker did not disappoint off the bat, at least. He averaged 12.3 points per game and seemed like he was beginning to figure the NBA out. Then he tore his ACL. His sophomore year was a bit of a wash as he got himself back up to speed and full health.

Then came last season, what was looking like a breakout year for him. He was scoring from all over the floor and seemed like he was realizing his prodigious talent. He was in a great system to highlight his skills and get the most from him. Parker was seemingly on the cusp of stardom.

He averaged 20.1 points per game and shot a 53.0 percent effective field goal percentage. He added 6.2 rebounds per game. Then he tore his ACL again. Now, entering his contract year, Parker has torn his ACL twice but shown all that promise. Parker’s career is coming to a crossroads.

Already, Parker is reportedly looking for a max contract extension from the Bucks. No one would blame them for taking a wait-and-see approach with him. Or balking at the heavy price tag.

Parker is not expected back until some point in the middle of the season, maybe not until January. And it may take another year for Parker to get to full health where he can play like he did before his latest injury.

That is a lot of uncertainty. And so Parker’s career that seemed so promising — and still is — has lost some shine.

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