Jabari Parker Trying To Avoid ‘Second Pick Bust’
The second overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft was Duke University freshman stand-out and Chicago native Jabari Parker. The Milwaukee Bucks possibly got themselves the most complete player in the draft, and possibly the most NBA-ready prospect. While Parker’s acquired talent is already enough for Bucks fans to be excited for their future for the first time in decades, his mentality is still to simply prove himself as a worthy no. 2 overall draft pick. Here were his remarks at the opening of the redesigned Jordan space inside Nike Chicago,
There’s been a lot of second pick busts. I’m just trying not to be that bust. Everyday that I step on the court, I just remind myself that I have a long ways to go. If I want to be one of those guys in the first tier of the NBA, like a LeBron, like a Kobe, like a [Blake Griffin], then I have to have that mentality starting off from the ground, and work my way up.
Last year’s number two pick was Victor Oladipo, who will do just fine with his trajectory, but former notable picks that didn’t live up to the standard might include Darko Milicic, Michael Beasley, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Derrick Williams, and Evan Turner. Parker’s ceiling is expectedly higher than those players when they were drafted.
On a young, rebuilding Milwaukee Bucks team, Jabari Parker should be their best player right away. This is good for him and for them, as both parties have their own acclimating to do when it comes to having a rookie be your go-to guy on the floor. Although the Jason Kidd hire came off as abrupt and premature, Parker and the Bucks at least have themselves a foundation of relevancy, which is much more than they’ve been able to say in a long time.
