The Jabari Parker experiment has come to a close very quickly for the Jim Boylen-led Chicago Bulls, as the new head coach said the homegrown product would no longer be part of the regular rotation, despite being eagerly signed by the team to a two-year, $40 million deal this offseason.
His demotion has been accompanied by a swirl of trade rumors, as Chicago has reportedly talked to teams interested in his services. Parker has remained poised despite the clear change in his role — going from regular 30-plus minutes under former coach Fred Hoiberg to single digits and even his first DNP of the season on Sunday in a win over the San Antonio Spurs.
“I chose to come here,” said Parker, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. “I did everything I can to prove that I belong here. And I’m going to continue to do that. My job is to be ready to be on the court. My agent’s job is to just be my defense and be that voice for me that I’m not able to say.”
Defense is actually the key reason Boylen decided to stop playing him, as he hasn't proven able to handle his duties at the less-lauded end of the floor as a small forward or a power forward this season.
Parker has leaned on the advice of his father for support, former NBA player Sonny Parker.
“I take it upon myself to do what I can first and foremost. But my person that I go to as my mentor is my father because my father played in the league. Everything I know comes from him. My basketball credentials are very credible because of my dad,” Parker said. “He tells me the truth. He tells me what it takes. He never feeds me negativity. It’s always what I can control. It’s never pointing a finger. That’s what I love so much about my father.”
Unless there is a massive improvement in the defensive department, it's hard to fathom Parker coming back to the rotation, especially with the likes of Bobby Portis and Lauri Markkanen soaking up most of his minutes in recent games.
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