Portal:Chicago/Selected biography/125

Jabari Ali Parker (born March 15, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for FC Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the second overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, after one season of playing for Duke University. He played four seasons for the Bucks. Then, he played with 5 different teams over the course of 4 more NBA seasons. Parker was a standout high school athlete, helping his team win four straight Illinois state championships for Simeon Career Academy, and was named the National High School Player of the Year by Gatorade and McDonald's. In his freshman year for the 2013–14 Duke Blue Devils, he was named a consensus first-team All-American, the USBWA National Freshman of the Year, and the runner-up for the John R. Wooden Award (College Player of the Year).

Among the most accomplished high school basketball players in American history, Parker has been often referred to as a tragic tale due to his numerous injuries and lack of success in the NBA. In the summer of 2023 and following a year away from professional basketball, he signed for FC Barcelona and quickly became an important part of their rotation and championship aspirations. His successful transition from the NBA marked a rebirth in his career. (Full article...)