Jabari Parker, the no. 2 overall selection in this year’s draft out of Duke University, is still considered likely the most NBA-ready player of his peers.
Averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds so far in the young season for new Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd, Parker has already been able to show some flashes of what may be to come. His comfortability, timing, quickness and overall awareness seem to just keep improving, but apparently some feel that Kidd isn’t even letting Parker reach his full ceiling by limiting his minutes.
Via Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops.com:
We are deep and I’m trying to keep – not on purpose, but in a sense – minutes down because it’s a long season,” Kidd said. “For Jabari, he’s never seen 82 games.” …
“Kidd’s hurting Jabari by not giving him enough playing time,” an Eastern Conference scout told SheridanHoops. “He’s 19 years old. He should be playing at least 35 minutes a game. Instead, he’s playing 29. That sounds like not a big deal, but seven or eight minutes per game adds up. It’s a lot of experience.”
“In this day and age you play him,” an Eastern Conference executive told SheridanHoops. “The whole resting him because he’s so young, let him get that ‘I want to play every night and not want to come out’ mentality.”
“The best way you learn is on the court,” another Eastern Conference scout told SheridanHoops.
Right now Parker is still averaging just under 30 minutes per game for the 11-11 Bucks, who had an impressive 10-5 start to this season.
In one sense I see Kidd’s point, and I don’t know how much of this strategy comes from higher up, but keeping your star rookie fresh isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Kidd might just understand the implications of burning out a rookie with star potential. I do see the other side just as clear. You want to let the young fawn run wild and free and figure out the rest later. Experience is the best teacher.
Either way, I’m sure Parker will turn out just fine.
