‘I kept my end of the bargain’
Unsure of future, Parker is frustrated by lack of court time but won’t point fingers
TORONTO — To get to where Jabari Parker is mentally these days, you have to begin at the end.
At the tail end of a lengthy interview in which Parker addressed everything from where he wants to be after the February trade deadline to his transition defense, the benched Bulls forward offered an unsolicited point in emphatic fashion.
“I will never point the finger. That’s not me. That’s not my career. That’s not Jabari,” Parker told the Tribune. “My dad taught me better than that. I’m a Godfearing man. I would never bash somebody. I’ll tell you what I think is the truth. But making it personal and telling lies is not me and will never be me.”
By all accounts, Parker had a strong practice Saturday, preparing for a Sunday evening game against the Raptors that he almost certainly will watch from the bench. Parker hasn’t played for seven straight games, a shocking and welldocumented demotion for the Bulls’ premier freeagent signing.
This obviously isn’t how Parker envisioned his homecoming playing out when the former Simeon High star signed a two-year, $40 million deal with a team option that won’t be picked up.
“It definitely isn’t. And I’m sad to say that,” Parker said. “I kept my end of the bargain.”
Parker was upbeat as he talked. He made eye contact. He listened to questions and contemplated some of them for several seconds before answering.
He exuded sincerity when he said his hefty paycheck didn’t assuage the frustration of falling completely out of the rotation when healthy for the first time in his career.
“Even when I was in Milwaukee, they knew what type of player I was,” Parker said. “They kind of treated me accordingly. It’s just different. I’ve been consistent. Even in the beginning, it wasn’t easy, right? It wasn’t like a fair chance. They took me out of the lineup. I stayed professional. I didn’t pout. I kept going.
“And then as I started getting better and better, it ended right there. It was unfortunate because I felt I was improving. And I just wish I had a little bit more chance.”
When management signed Parker, it said he fit the philosophy of acquiring young talent to see what worked long-term without focusing on lineup fit. Fred Hoiberg, a more offensiveminded coach, quickly shelved the experiment of starting Parker at small forward but kept him in the rotation for his scoring.
When the defensiveminded Jim Boylen replaced Hoiberg, he removed Parker from the rotation after five games and publicly challenged him to practice harder and exert more effort at the defensive end.
“From my seat, he needs to lock into practicing hard, playing hard and honoring the values of the team, which I’ve set forth,” Boylen said. “He knows what my expectations are.”
When Parker expresses his belief that he kept his end of the bargain, what he means is he’s the same player — warts and all — the Bulls targeted in free agency. When Boylen removed him from the rotation, Parker ranked second on the team in scoring at 15.2 points per game. Now, he’s third. His 6.9 rebounds per game are tied for third.
Boylen’s decision also pointed to larger themes the coach is trying to establish about holding players accountable and a toughminded culture.
“I don’t think it’s Jim’s fault,” Parker said. “It’s bigger than Jim. I think it’s the overall organization and the direction they’re going. I’ve done everything that’s been asked of me. I didn’t complain. I never had an argument or confrontation with anybody. I’ve done what I do.”
Asked specifically about his transition defense, which has featured several instances of him jogging back after a turnover, Parker didn’t flinch.
“I’m not perfect, right?” he said. “The game is about minimizing mistakes. Guys get back-cut. Guys get a certain amount of points scored on them. But it’s not the end of the world. I’ve improved on all facets. You can’t just point out a few mistakes and say, ‘Hey, you got to sit out.’ That’s not the game because I offer so much to it.
“I give another threat on offense that can help the team. I’m a willing passer. And I rebound. It’s not just transition defense. Nobody is perfect in transition.”
Parker’s strong Saturday practice is an encouraging sign of engagement. There are recent examples of the opposite, including on Friday in Washington when Parker didn’t fully participate in pregame layup lines.
Asked if he still feels connected to the team, Parker said: “Yeah, because I care for my guys. I want to see them do well. This is a player’s game, right? I always enjoy being around the guys.”
The Bulls and Parker’s representative are working to find a trade scenario that works for both parties. League sources indicated that teams interested in Parker are asking the Bulls to take on bad, long-term contracts. As of now, that’s a non-starter for the Bulls, who structured Parker’s deal the way they did for a reason.
Where does Parker want to be come Feb. 8, the day after the trade deadline?
“Honestly, I just want to play,” he said.
“I’ve stayed ready. I want to play meaningful minutes — not 4 minutes and nothing for the rest of the game. I just have to wait for that chance and opportunity.
“There’s a bigger picture here, so I’m staying prepared and patient.”