Milwaukee Bucks forward Josh Powell (8) and center Greg Monroe (15) and guard Khris Middleton (22) pose together during media day at Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Training Center.
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Toward the end of last season, a few players on the Milwaukee Bucks floated the idea of taking training camp somewhere new – a common practice in the National Basketball Association. But if that plan includes Parker practicing for three hours as if he were anyone else, they must not be too concerned about his knee. Wherever he might be, we’re always going to be cautious with him. Multiple locations were discussed, but the decision came from a phone conversation between general manager John Hammond and coach Jason Kidd. “I think this is a good thing, especially with the weather being nice, being able to get out and maybe catch a volleyball game or something like that that’s happening here on campus”. Trainers will see how Parker feels on Tuesday night and then talk to him again before practice on Wednesday.
“The young core has a chance to be a special team”, Hammond said. If a mountain can’t stop him, I think the terrain in Madison will be no challenge. Parker, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft, has that kind of ability, which is why his future and the Bucks’ future are so intertwined.
Parker averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and was on pace to be named rookie of the year when he was injured on December 15. In Kidd’s words, Parker turned a negative into a positive by using his rehab to add strength and size so he could hold his ground against power forwards.
“You can see the ceiling is very high”.
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That’s what training camp is for for all players, injuries or not.
