Editor’s Note: Article Co-Authored with Peter Wiseman and James Jukes
If there was anything positive that came out of the nightmare season for Milwaukee last year, it was the chance to choose Jabari Parker second overall in the 2014 NBA draft.
Since acquiring the one and done forward out of Duke, the Bucks who only won fifteen games last season have shot out to an impressive 13-12 record, behind Parker’s 12.3 points per game on .490 shooting, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Parker has been a one of the best performers on the court for the Bucks this season, and was an early favourite to win the NBA’s rookie of the year award.
Things had seemed to be rolling in a positive direction for the Bucks who find themselves in third place in the Central Division, sixth place overall in the Eastern Conference, and had just celebrated their biggest win of the season, a 111-106 victory over the Clippers on Saturday, when Parker’s left knee buckled as he was driving toward the hoop in the third quarter of their game against the Suns on Monday night.
The injury which was initially thought to be a sprained right knee turns out to be way more serious for Parker who received 52.8% of votes from his peers as the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award before the season started. After being named the Rookie of the Month for games played in October/November, and becoming just the fourteenth player in the last thirty seasons, and the first teenager ever to record multiple double-doubles within his first three games, Parker will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
The Bucks have been looking for a player to build around for some time now, and it was starting to look like the polished young forward who carries himself with confidence on and off the court might be that piece, until the injury struck while they were trailing 53-44 to the Suns with 10:52 left in the 3rd quarter.
The Bucks, who have flourished in Coach Jason Kidd’s first season in Milwaukee, seemed undaunted. Especially, Parker’s replacement Khris Middleton, who hit a three at the buzzer to pull out the victory for Milwaukee on a shot that should be replayed plenty of times throughout the season.
You hate to see a young player with so much talent go down, but this team is deep and hungry, and I don’t think we have heard the last of the Bucks or Parker just yet.
“Tough break but (Parker) will come back stronger and hungrier. Please join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.” Bucks executive Alexander Lasry, tweeted after the injury was announced.
Others from around the basketball world were also concerned for the young star, with former Pistons guard Isaiah Thomas tweeting, “Praying for you, stay positive,” in relation to the injury news.
It’s safe to say that Buck’s fans everywhere will agree with that sentiment as they cheer for their team during the remainder of this season, and wait with heavy hearts and fingers crossed until Parker returns.
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Main Photo via USA Today Sports Images
