Jabari Parker has barely begun his promising NBA career, but that hasn't stopped him from looking ahead to his future.
In an article he wrote on The Players' Tribune, the young Bucks forward shared his goals for life beyond the NBA.
Jabari Parker's life outside of basketball
As soon as next summer, Parker plans to start working on one of his biggest goals: finishing his college degree.
“Going back and getting my degree is something that I promised myself and my mom the day I called her and my dad to tell them that I was entering the draft,” Parker wrote. “Not a lot of people in my family can say they got a college diploma, so I want to do that – for them and for me.”
As far as his career once his basketball days are behind him?
“I can't wait for the day when I can stand in front of a classroom (as a teacher).”
For the city of Chicago
Beyond making his family proud, Jabari Parker wants nothing more than to make his hometown proud too. The Chicago-native's dreams of teaching stem from a teacher that inspired him. Now, Parker wants to give pack to his city.
“I also want to do it for the kids of Chicago. I want to become a teacher after I get out of the league, and help show kids what my dad and (my Grade 7 history teacher) Ms. Reed showed me: There's more out there than the gangs, than the liquor stores, than the violence.”
After averaging just over 14 points and five rebounds last season to go along with 1.7 assists per game, Parker will look to help his upstart Milwaukee team fight for a playoff spot in his third NBA season.