For someone purported to be an anchor of the team’s future, Jabari Parker looked more like a bit piece during the first half of last season. Tipped as a future “alpha” NBA scorer in the lead-up to the 2014 NBA Draft, by February of last year his low usage percentage tied for just sixth on the team with the hook-heaving John Henson.
Post All-Star break though, Parker shot up to second on the team behind Giannis, posting a 23.9% usage en route to performances that had Bucks fans gradually emerge from DEFCON Derrick Williams. With the news of Khris Middleton’s six-month absence, fans are expecting Parker’s usage to increase even further, but might Parker also develop some of the playmaking skills that made Middleton so useful?