The Milwaukee Bucks haven't started training camp yet, but No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker already has an idea of the role he'll play next season. The talented rookie says he's "more comfortable" playing the power forward position these days, and that's likely how he'll be used by new coach Jason Kidd in his first year with the team.
Jabari Parker says he will play power forward for the Bucks
Rather than compete for minutes with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks’ top pick will play beside him in a young, athletic frontcourt.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
That’s where I played previously, before getting drafted, at Duke. I played a lot of 4. Even in high school. I know this is a different level.
Parker has spent time at both forward positions in the past, and was often considered a wing by draft analysts and other evaluators. However, given the evolving style of the NBA and Parker’s impressively developed 6’8 frame, sticking at power forward seems like a reasonable proposition for now. The 19-year-old won’t be a protoypical 4, though.
“But in coach’s style of play, it’s more a stretch 4. That’s where I like to play my game, even though I like to post up a little. Just being on the perimeter, setting screens and popping, that’s what we’ve been doing so far. That’s what coach Kidd has been anticipating me playing that role.”
Milwaukee already has Giannis Antetokounmpo, its 2013 first-round pick, slated to start at small forward, so this allows Parker to join him in the starting lineup. A frontcourt featuring Parker, Antetokounmpo, John Henson, Larry Sanders and Ersan Ilyasova may not lead to many wins next season, but those guys represent hope for Milwaukee. The team should be pretty fun to watch next season, too.
Parker is considered one of the favorites to win Rookie of the Year next season, and part of that is the huge role he’ll play on a younger team. With less responsibility handling the ball and initiating offense, it’ll be interesting to see how Parker fits into Kidd’s schemes.
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