Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker has emerged as one of the NBA’s most improved players this season.
In just his second full season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Jabari Parker is averaging over 20 points per game on nearly 50 percent from the field and is shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range on 3.5 attempts per game, a high volume for someone who barely attempted them at all last season.
Parker’s numbers are up across the board and he’s still just 21 years of age. After nearly putting up a triple-double — he had a career high in assists and a season high in rebounds — in a loss to the Hawks in Atlanta on Sunday, Parker spoke to The Comeback about his improvement, the unbelievable athleticism of teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Grayson Allen situation at his Alma Mater of Duke and his love for the King of Pop.
On the improvement in his game
The best plays from Jabari Parker!!
Vote Bari to the @NBAAllStar Game at https://t.co/YFwrmdVM3K pic.twitter.com/8nlqxXb9c4
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 14, 2017
The Comeback: You’re scoring over 20 points per game this season in basically your second full NBA season and shooting over 41 percent from three. What’s been clicking for you?
Jabari Parker: It’s my mentality of just taking what’s given to me. I’m trying to challenge myself each and every game, stay consistent.
TCB: Where do you think your game needs work on? Obviously, you’re not a finished product by any means.
JP: Just everywhere. I want to be a basketball player who sharpens my tools as the fundamentals go. Just play every position and [improve at] every aspect.
https://vine.co/v/53eMhxnm32t
TCB: This team has been an interesting group by how well you shoot from the field, percentage-wise [third in the league in team field goal percentage, 47.7 percent, going into Tuesday’s games]. Is that something that you emphasize? Or is that based on the number of threes you take or where the shots come from?
JP: We just use our strengths to our advantage. We’re a driving team and we finish around the paint. We score a lot from the paint too, so that leads to a higher percentage.
TCB: There were a lot of people who were down on you as a team at the beginning of the season because of what Detroit and Indiana did in the offseason. Now you’re one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. Why do you think that’s happened?
JP: They did the same thing to us last year, and we didn’t pan out. So I guess that’s the jinx that happens.
TCB: Is that the Central Division jinx?
JP: No. Just the new identity jinx.
On playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo
TCB: Is there anything that Giannis can’t do on the basketball court?
JP: No. He can do everything.
TCB: Is there anything he’s done that stands out in your mind that really wowed you or left you in awe?
JP: His length. He’s just so long, man. Last year [when he dunked] with the Euro[step] from the 3-point line. How do you do that? That’s what makes him unique.
On fellow Duke Blue Devil Grayson Allen
https://vine.co/v/i6rMl9DWwLe
TCB: I don’t know if people have been asking you about Grayson Allen. If you were his teammate and you’d see the things that he’s done, would you say anything to him?
JP: No, I wouldn’t. I just want him to be him. You know, the game gets emotional. Players make plays. I don’t think it’s personal by any means, but in the spur of the moment, he just reacted. And everybody knows that he’s not that type of guy. It rarely carries out off the court.
You know, things just happen. I feel like he just needs to sharpen himself when it comes to that. Don’t do that. Just try to prevent it from happening. But once it’s done, it’s done. Don’t try to, like, impress other people. Because you’re your own person.
On his favorite music
TCB: Speaking of your own personality, I heard Michael Jackson blasting from the training room speakers when you were getting treatment done and people were kind of messing with you before the game for that. Is that your personality musically, or were you just feeling it today?
JP: No, I love Mike. I like Mike, I like Prince. I like all kinds of music. I don’t care, they can make fun of me, but that’s me. That’s me, and I can’t change that, right?
