Having endured a long road back to the court, doctors have given Jabari Parker and his surgically-repaired left knee the green light to hoop again, the Milwaukee Bucks announced Monday.
Parker will make his season debut tomorrow night against the Philadelphia Sixers.
A Message From @JabariParker!!
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— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 3, 2015
Parker’s promising rookie campaign was derailed last December by a devastating ACL injury.
Per the Journal Sentinel:
Parker will be at power forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo at small forward and Khris Middleton at shooting guard. Greg Monroe will be at center and Michael Carter-Williams at point guard. Those five — plus injured backup center John Henson — represent the young core of a promising Bucks future.
The 20-year-old Parker has worked diligently in his rehab from left knee surgery and was cleared to play Monday after a visit to surgeon David Altchek at his Manhattan office. Parker’s teammate, 21-year-old point guard Tyler Ennis, also received clearance to play after undergoing surgery in May for a torn labrum in his right shoulder. […] Parker, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft, was limited to 25 games last season before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament when he fell to the floor on the fast break during a Dec. 15 game in Phoenix.
Coach Jason Kidd said Parker will be limited to “15 to 20 minutes” per game at the beginning and likely will not play on back-to-back nights. […] “He’s done everything we feel a basketball player can do at a high level, and he’s excited,” Kidd said. “You can see his body has changed. He’s been in the weight room; he looks stronger. I think the weight room this summer has given him a voice. He’s talking more. He’s 20 years old. He was hurt doing something that he loved, and he wanted to get back out and help his team win.”
