Bucks' Parker says he's on track to participate in training camp
ST. FRANCIS, Wis. -- Jabari Parker is unwilling to set a target date for his return to the court, but he believes he is on schedule to be ready to participate when training camp opens in the fall.
At the team's exit interviews at the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Training Center, Parker laid out his plans for an important summer as he works his way back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
"I think I'm going to stick around here for the remainder of June," Parker said. "I'll be out in summer league in July, eventually being able to be on the court, not playing of course. After that, maybe do a combined session with forwards in August, maybe go out somewhere, I don't know where we're going to train.
"I'd then be right on schedule to where I want to go (for training camp). Prepares me right before the season to get the wind going. It is always good to be a part of the team in preseason."
Parker suffered the ACL tear during Milwaukee's victory in Phoenix on Dec. 15. He would be roughly nine months out from his Jan. 5 surgery when training camp opens in early October.
Fellow rookie Damien Inglis, who missed the entire season with a fractured right foot, has a chance to be ready to participate in summer league with the Bucks.
"They are on course," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. "There haven't been any hiccups with their rehabs. That's all good news to get those guys back in the fold.
"For Jabari, that's all great news for him to go out to (Las) Vegas (for summer league) and work out with us to get back in the fold of playing."
Although Parker was unable to play in the playoffs, the 20-year-old feels he took something from being around the team during their first-round series with the Chicago Bulls.
"It puts things into perspective of how I need to work hard because I need to make up for what we did," Parker said. "It's just a great experience in all, because I had this year to prepare mentally, a little more physically through my off time right now."
Drafted No. 2 overall by the Bucks after just one season at Duke, Parker averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in the 25 games he played during his rookie season.
Expectations for Parker were high from the get-go, as many considered him the favorite to win Rookie of the Year. The 6-foot-8 forward was just hitting his stride when his season was abruptly ended while trying to make a Euro-step in transition against the Suns.
"A lot of people say the college game is the best game, but looking at it it's not," Parker said. "I'm so serious. The NBA is where it's at, just because of the players, the competition, less turnovers, better shot selections. I could go on and on; defensive principles. A lot of people say 'Oh, NBA players take nights off.' Please. Guys do not take nights off. They play hard every night, and it's hard to score 20 points every night."
The physical grind of rehabbing a torn ACL can take its toll on a player, but the mental obstacles of returning to the court can be just as troublesome.
Such was the case for Bulls guard Derrick Rose when he missed the entire 2012-13 season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee during the 2012 playoffs.
"I think I held up really good because I know where I want to be," Parker said. "I accepted the things that happened to me. It's the reality of it, and right now it's just building upon those things I have in place and trying to prepare."
From witnessing the rehab process first hand, Kidd is confident the mental side of things won't be an issue for Parker.
"I think he can come back and be even better, mentally and physically stronger," Kidd said. "Any time you have an injury as serious like that, you can use it as a positive. I think he's the type of kid where this will motivate him."
Having the talented power forward back for the start of training camp would be a significant boost to a Bucks team coming off a season in which they improved drastically in every aspect.
Parker is part of a young nucleus that also includes Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams and potentially Khris Middleton, who is a restricted free agent.
"We are going to get better and better," Antetokounmpo said. "Mike is going to get better. Khris is going to get better. Jabari is going to come back and he's going to get better. Damien is going to help. I'm going to help. All the young guys are going to help. We're just going to get better and better."
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