Bucks’ Jabari Parker set to return from ACL surgery

MILWAUKEE, USA – Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker has been medically cleared to play for the first time since a season-ending knee injury last January cut short his rookie campaign, the NBA team announced Tuesday, November 3.

Parker and guard Tyler Ennis, recovering from a shoulder injury, are expected to play Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Parker, the second overall pick in last year’s NBA Draft, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and had surgery in January.

Parker will be eased back onto the court and will not play extensively for several weeks and possibly not at all when the team plays on consecutive nights, Bucks coach Jason Kidd said.

“He’ll be limited in minutes and we hopefully can build that. We have a plan,” Kidd said. “We’ll see about the back-to-backs early on. He probably won’t play in the back-to-backs.”

Parker, who averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 25 games for Milwaukee last season, said he expects to play between 15 and 20 minutes a game.

“That sounds pretty good,” Parker said. “Even 20 is a big number. I just go with what I’m given.” – Rappler.com