Jabari Parker had one viral moment after Game 3 loss to Real Madrid that ended the season for his team, FC Barcelona. The Catalans finished the season on a disappointing note losing to Real Madrid in the ACB semi-finals.
Parker was certainly not thrilled about the season ending, but he ended the year on the highest basketball level fully health. That has its own value for a player that went through so much adversity during his career. Coming to the NBA as the next best thing in the forward position, Jabari Parker was a future superstar that could blossom to become the face of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks picked him second overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. If things went as we were expected now, Parker could have formed a lethal duet with Giannis Antetokounmpo who rose to prominence to become one of the best players in the NBA after entering the league as an obscure pick from Greece in the 2013 NBA draft.
Sometimes things are not working the way we want. Jabari Parker suffered two consecutive season-ending injuries and his NBA career changed. He wasn’t the same star-studded forward, injuries made him an easy target on defense as his quickness and athletisicm dropped a little, at least for the NBA standards.
The Chicago native was unable to find a home in the NBA. After his first four seasons in Milwaukee, he moved teams every season between 2018 and 2022. His last stop was the Boston Celtics before he made the decision to move overseas.
Jabari Parker broke to tears after his first season in FC Barcelona
Coming into the best league in the world as a future star might weight on a player, but Jabari Parker is a strong-willed character. He had not had the luxury to be anything else struggling to recover from serious injuries and finding a place to call his basketball home in the NBA. His decision to come over to FC Barcelona last summer was the most crucial he took in a long-time regarding his career.
The Chicagoan was immediately became a success story for the Catalans who came out of the gates on scorching hot and persistently were one of the best EuroLeague teams in the regular season. Parker became a rookie again at age 29 and averaged 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and a PIR of 9.6 in the EuroLeague.
The former Duke phenom was the best player in the semi-final series loss to Real Madrid. He averaged 18.2 points and four rebounds per game on 58.3 percent shooting from the floor, 45.5 percent shooting from three, and 84.6 percent shooting on free throws. He even posterized the best defender in Europe, Edy Tavares.
Parker did everything he could to help his team reach the EuroLeague Final-Four. He was also the top performer in FC Barcelona playoff battle against Olympiacos as the Catalans reached one win away from the Final-Four that took place in Berlin. The American forward appeared in 38 games in the EuroLeague and made 20 starts.
He recovered from a tough spot physically and mentally, as it’s evident now by him breaking up in tears when he was asked to reflect on his first season overseas. He was unable to speak as he attempted to contain his emotions, however, they flooded out. When he was later asked about his reaction, he explained the reason he became so emotional.
“In Barcelona, I’ve recovered my love for basketball,” Jabari Parker said to Jijantes FC.
Jabari Parker confirmed his statement a couple of months ago, when he signed a two-year extension with FC Barcelona. He will be part of the club that made him restore his love for the game. Aside from the thunderous dunks, his shooting efficiency and his rebounding numbers, the Duke product is happy to part of the city of Barcelona as he admitted once he signed his new contract.
“I enjoy being with people, it gives me good energy when I see people every day and I have the opportunity to walk down the street. This also allows me to be a person in Barcelona and to be a citizen in Barcelona. This is what I try to do. I try to be more in tune with the locals”.
It’s true that you can find home in the strangest places and Jabari Parker is in a spot that can cherish what FC Barcelona offers him as a club on and off the court.
