Jabari Parker Cleared to Make Season Debut

Having endured a long road back to the court, doctors have given Jabari Parker and his surgically-repaired left knee the green light to hoop again, the Milwaukee Bucks announced Monday.

Parker will make his season debut tomorrow night against the Philadelphia Sixers.

Parker’s promising rookie campaign was derailed last December by a devastating ACL injury.

Per the Journal Sentinel:

Parker will be at power forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo at small forward and Khris Middleton at shooting guard. Greg Monroe will be at center and Michael Carter-Williams at point guard. Those five — plus injured backup center John Henson — represent the young core of a promising Bucks future.

 

The 20-year-old Parker has worked diligently in his rehab from left knee surgery and was cleared to play Monday after a visit to surgeon David Altchek at his Manhattan office. Parker’s teammate, 21-year-old point guard Tyler Ennis, also received clearance to play after undergoing surgery in May for a torn labrum in his right shoulder. […] Parker, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft, was limited to 25 games last season before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament when he fell to the floor on the fast break during a Dec. 15 game in Phoenix.

 

Coach Jason Kidd said Parker will be limited to “15 to 20 minutes” per game at the beginning and likely will not play on back-to-back nights. […] “He’s done everything we feel a basketball player can do at a high level, and he’s excited,” Kidd said. “You can see his body has changed. He’s been in the weight room; he looks stronger. I think the weight room this summer has given him a voice. He’s talking more. He’s 20 years old. He was hurt doing something that he loved, and he wanted to get back out and help his team win.”