Excuse Jabari Parker while he removes his foot from the throes of his mouth.
After being selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 2 pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Parker was naturally excited. How could he not be? He just made it to the NBA! He’s a millionaire! Larry Sanders can hook him up with free weed!
Parker was so happy, in fact, that he said something he probably shouldn’t have, according to Pro Basketball Talk’s Dan Feldman:
Fed a steady diet of beer, bratwurst and cheese, this dream grew and grew and eventually turned into reality.
Not only did the Bucks draft Parker No. 2 overall Thursday, he practically declared himself a Buck for life.
“I’m trying to be a throwback player, only stick with one team,” Parker said.
Let’s hear it for Milwaukee! New owners, new superstar and maybe a new arena? Times…they are a changing.
The Bucks haven’t had an All-Star since Michael Redd. Projected as the most NBA-ready player of this class, Parker figures to give them their next one. Better still, he wants to stay with the Bucks.
Forever.
Only it turns out forever comes to soon.
The Duke University standout quickly backtracked on his marble-etched words from before, per Feldman:
The joy lasted only a second before Parker backtracked.
“That might bite me in the butt years from now,” Parker said. “But right now, I just want to stick with whoever’s rolling with me.”
A Buck for life for tonight.
Don’t worry, Jabari. You’ll learn. Rookies always do. They get caught up in the moment and say things they probably shouldn’t. It even happens to superstars. One minute you’re in love with the idea of joining the New York Knicks, the next you’re hawking your talents on the NBA’s streets, hoping some contender can clear enough cap space to get you a ring, or even just allow you to make your first NBA Finals appearance (elaborate, Carmelo Anthony-laced innuendo intended).
Before Parker knows it, he’ll be staring down the barrel of the 2017-18 season, eligible for an extension. A fat extension. It’s one he’ll probably sign too, knowing full well there will be bigger, better markets out there. But that’s the perks of drafting star talent. Players don’t normally leave after their rookie contracts. The paydays are too massive to pass up. Teams can lock down players for at least six years when you factor in part or all of their first contract extension. That’s a pretty good deal.
None of this is to say Parker already hates the Bucks. He grew up in Chicago. Milwaukee is practically home. He also wanted to be drafted by the Bucks, according to ESPN.com’s Chad Ford:
Sources close to the Cavs told ESPN.com this weekend that the team is now leaning toward taking Parker with the No. 1 pick. However, it’s far from a lock. Parker came in to work out on Friday in front of the Cavs’ front office and ownership. Parker wasn’t great. He was a bit heavy (he weighed in at 255 pounds), didn’t shoot the ball well and got winded at times. Furthermore, two different sources told ESPN.com that Parker seemed a bit indifferent. One source said he thought Parker “tanked” the workout.
Why? A source says he strongly prefers to play in Milwaukee. The Cavs appear to be aware of this. “Jabari wasn’t himself,” one source said. “It was clear we weren’t his first option.”
Now that never happens. Cleveland isn’t Los Angeles, but it’s considered an upgrade over Milwaukee.
Yet here Parker was, supposedly tanking his workout so that he could join the Bucks.
That’s what we call a keeper.
At least until said keeper wants to play somewhere else, anyway.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
