Jabari Parker: Destined To Be A Superstar
Jabari Parker, the 2nd overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft (Photo courtesy of Dennis Tang/GQ.com)
The 2014 NBA Draft has plenty of people speculating on the future of the rookies that were drafted. After the draft, fans looked forward to getting a glimpse of the future NBA stars in the Summer League. In the Orlando Summer League and the Las Vegas Summer League, we saw what the future of the NBA will look like. The future looks very bright. Of course, much of the talent is very raw, but they will develop into great players as their careers progress. Out of the bunch, there are few rookies that have the talent to compete in today’s NBA. One of those few goes by the name of Jabari Parker, the #2 overall draft pick for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The former Duke University product, made headlines in his one year playing as a Blue Devil. The 6′-8″ Forward averaged 19.1 PTS, 47 FG%, 36 3P%, 75 FT%, 8.7 RB, 1.2 AST, 1.1 STL, 1.2 BLK and 2.3 TO per game. His dominance continued into the Summer League. In the 5 games he played he averaged 15.6 PTS, 41.9 FG%, 8.2 RB, 1.4 AST, and 5.0 TO. Fans will cringe when they look at his turnovers and field goal percentage, but he is still developing his game. If you saw him play in the summer league, you could foresee him dominating the offensive end. He definitely has the potential to be a top scorer in the NBA. After all, comparisons to a future hall of famer, Carmelo Anthony, are nothing to laugh at. He can score from anywhere in the field, and as his career progresses, so will his efficiency.
We also got a preview of the great #1 and #2 draft pick rivalry between Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker. They both provided exciting action when playing against each other and showed fans why they needed to pay attention to the Summer League. However, that might’ve been the only actual NBA game that they will play against each other. Although, they are both in the Eastern Conference, their teams will see plenty of each other, but they might not. With Lebron James leading the Cleveland Cavaliers, Andrew Wiggins might be coming off the bench. Also, Jabari Parker still has to prove himself in training camp and prove he deserves a spot in the starting lineup. So, the historical matchup between the #1 and #2 draft picks might not happen this season. Don’t worry though, the offseason isn’t over and Andrew Wiggins might get traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. If he does, then the historical rivalry will commence, and we will be able to enjoy another great rookie matchup. Assuming both are the focal points of their respective teams. We will get to experience a great matchup for years to come. As we all know, those great matchups will further assist them in building their legacies.
With that being said, both players need to live up to the hype. As long as they do, they will have great careers ahead of them and possibly a spot in the hall of fame. Although, it’s too early to bring up that conversation. Nevertheless, Jabari Parker will prove his worth in the NBA. His draft stock was high for a reason and he showed the NBA world why it was. His ability to play the small forward and power forward position will help him greatly with his campaign to be a great player. His offensive touch will thrust him into a star level and his consistency will prove that he will be a superstar.
We have to remember that he is still a rookie and he is unproven in the NBA. So he does have plenty to work on. He definitely needs to improve on his defensive skills and his handling of the ball. As long as he continues to improve on the offensive end, he will reach the star status that only a few can claim. And if he contributes to his team and makes players around him better, he will reach superstar status. A status that is a rarity in today’s NBA. It’ll be a tough mountain to climb. But if Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James have shown us anything, it’s that you need a great draft rivalry to get there. Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker will definitely help each other get there. And it will be a win for the fans watching them grow from young men into superstar athletes. At the end of the day, it won’t matter who you root for, because if you’re with him or against him, Jabari Parker is destined to be a superstar.
Anton Joe
Brendan Taylor
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