Milwaukee Bucks’ forward Jabari Parker has faced significant injuries before, and he may have suffered another one Wednesday night.
During the third quarter of the Bucks’ game against the Miami Heat Wednesday, Parker went down with a serious-looking non-contact injury and was helped off the floor.
Bucks’ Jabari Parker helped off the floor after going down with non-contact knee injury pic.twitter.com/5qPs74fIFq
— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) February 9, 2017
Parker suffered a left ACL tear during his rookie season in 2014-15, and the Milwaukee broadcasters compared this injury to that one:
Bucks broadcast compares Jabari Parker's 2014 left ACL tear w/ his apparent left knee injury vs. Heat pic.twitter.com/3NK6lndXXi
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 9, 2017
TNT’s David Aldridge reported that Parker would not return to the game, and would undergo a MRI evaluation Thursday:
Bucks will hold their breath overnight on Jabari Parker–MRI on Thursday.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) February 9, 2017
If this is a major injury, that’s a brutal blow for Parker. He’s been having a great second full season so far, averaging career-highs in minutes (34.2), points (20.2), rebounds (6.2), assists (2.8) and more per game. He told The Comeback‘s Shlomo Sprung last month that his improvement this year is thanks to his drive to consistently get better:
It’s my mentality of just taking what’s given to me. I’m trying to challenge myself each and every game, stay consistent. …I want to be a basketball player who sharpens my tools as the fundamentals go. Just play every position and [improve at] every aspect.
While Parker is in his third season overall in the NBA after being picked second overall by the Bucks in 2014 after one season at Duke, he’s still just 21. However, he’s already battled through one severe injury. Here’s hoping he isn’t facing another one.
[The Crossover on Twitter]
