NBA

Jabari Parker looking to continue career overseas after offers from 2 NBA teams fell through

Published by
Brad Sullivan

After negotiations with two different NBA teams failed to result in a contract, Jabari Parker is now focusing on continuing his basketball career overseas.

Parker’s agent Nuno Pedroso denied rumors that the veteran was set to sign with the Serbian team Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade but indicated that Parker wants to continue playing.

“Jabari is currently looking for a team overseas,” Pedroso told Mozzart Sport. “He had offers from two NBA teams and was close to signing, but in the end, there was no agreement reached.

 

“Now, we are looking at other options, primarily overseas. As for Partizan, nothing is close. We just informed the club that he is on the market and that he is a free agent. The stories that negotiations are underway are not true.”

Parker was once seen as a potential NBA superstar after the Milwaukee Bucks drafted him with the second overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. That promise appeared to be taking shape during his rookie season until he suffered an ACL injury in his 25th game.

Returning the next season, Parker started 72 of the 76 regular season games he played in for the Bucks, offering similar numbers to those of his pre-injury performance.

Another ACL injury the following year ended Parker’s season after just 51 games, with the Chicago native then playing in just 31 games for the Bucks during the 2017-18 season.

Looking for a new path, Parker signed a free agent contract with his hometown Chicago Bulls in 2018. However, that return only lasted 39 games before he was dealt to the Washington Wizards.

That deal began a stretch in which Parker played for the Wizards and three other teams. Last season, he played in just 12 games for the Boston Celtics before being released last January.

It’s uncertain which two NBA teams were considering offering a contract to Parker. Given the downward path his career has taken, the offer undoubtedly paled in comparison to his rookie deal.

During that stint with the Celtics, which took place over two seasons, Parker saw action in 22 games. All of those appearances came off the bench, with Parker averaging just 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

In the 2014 NBA Draft in which Parker was selected, the first player taken was Andrew Wiggins, who has since become an important part of the Golden State Warriors lineup. Joel Embiid, who has gotten past his own injury woes, was taken just after him and has given the Philadelphia 76ers a perennial contender for the league’s Most Valuable Player award.

Sadly, it appears that Parker will end his basketball career in relative obscurity, far from the prominence he was expecting less than a decade ago.

Brad Sullivan

Brad has written on a variety of both NBA and NFL topics and has worked previously as a sports information director at the collegiate level. A lifetime fan of sports, he's witnessed countless great moments in different sports and understands that stories can be compelling from both the perspective of winners and losers. As a frustrated fan of Cleveland sports, he experienced something unprecedented when the Cavaliers won the city's first championship in 52 years.

Published by
Brad Sullivan

Recent Posts

‘Wtf’: Trae Young reacts to Rashad McCants saying he could score 81 points like Kobe Bryant

Back in January of 2006, former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant put on one…

3 hours ago

Rashad McCants says he could’ve won ROTY but had a coach who was ‘shaking in the motherf——g huddle’

Former NBA guard Rashad McCants was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the last lottery…

3 hours ago

Chandler Parsons says Jaylen Brown would be best player on over half of NBA teams, including some playoff teams

The Boston Celtics were without maybe their top player for Wednesday's Game 2 versus the…

3 hours ago

‘Spo gonna Spo’: Cavs player gives Erik Spoelstra his flowers after Heat’s near-upset in Game 2

The odds were stacked against the Miami Heat to pick up a win in Game…

3 hours ago

Report: Will Campbell landing with Patriots may depend on whether team gets ‘fair deal’ to trade down

As a consolation prize for a woeful 2024 season that was marred by losing, the…

3 hours ago

Report: ‘Most of the league’ has been contacted about Jalen Ramsey, including Rams, Lions and Eagles

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey is one of the more notable players in the league…

3 hours ago