The 2014 NBA Draft hype was real. In many cases, it was regarded as the best draft since 2003, which produced stars that you may have heard of: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. The 2014 draft was headlined by Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins, Dante Exum, and Jabari Parker.
Since then, much of the hype has calmed down. The first two years of the 2014 class’s career has been plagued by injuries and oddities. Joel Embiid has yet to play a NBA game because of injuries. Dante Exum struggled last year, and then tore his ACL prior to the season. Jabari Parker showed some flair before tearing his ACL last December, and then had a modest beginning to the 2015-2016 season. Andrew Wiggins was traded before he ever suited up for a NBA game, getting swapped from the Cavs to the Wolves for Kevin Love.
Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins have had a rivalry dating back to their high school days. The duo was ranked #1 and #2 coming out of high school by virtually every recruiting website. Parker committed to Duke, meanwhile Wiggins committed to Kansas. The stars played against each other at the beginning of their collegiate careers in Chicago, which at the time, the rankings were #4 Duke vs. #5 Kansas. Wiggins and Kansas got the win, 94-83, but both stars shined that night. Parker finished with 28 points and 9 rebounds, and Wiggins scored 22 points and tallied 8 rebounds. Both freshman struggled in the tournament, as their teams were bounced early by lower seeds. Keeping the parallels and rivalry going, Wiggins and Parker got selected 1 and 2 in the 2014 NBA Draft.
The 2014 class is well on its way to having almost two full seasons in the books, and before this year’s All-Star Game, you could really only bank on Andrew Wiggins being a star. Wiggins won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award last season, averaging 16.9 PPG and 4.6 RPG. His athleticism jumps out at you from the moment you start watching him. His true potential is on the defensive end, where many people believe that he potentially could be one of the best defenders in the league.
This year, Wiggins has made a few small steps. Although he is averaging less assists and rebounds than in his rookie season, he is averaging 20.7 PPG with more efficiency from the field. Wiggins seems destined to be at the very least a perennial All-Star over the next decade. There has been much more uncertainty for Jabari Parker.
Parker, as previously mentioned, tore his ACL in his 25th career NBA game. He averaged 12.3 PPG and 5.1 RPG before his season was ended. So far in his sophomore season, he’s coming along slow but steady, averaging 12.6 PPG and 5.1 RPG. At times, he’s seemed lost or underutilized in Milwaukee’s offense. Although he’s explosive, Parker is a tad undersized, and has had trouble scoring with efficiency at the NBA level. However, it’s been his production since the All-Star Game that has Bucks fans excited.
Over the last 7 games, Parker is averaging 22.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 2.5 APG, on 53.7% from the field. On February 20th, Parker scored 28 points with 13 rebounds against the Hawks.
His best performance as a pro came Monday night against the Rockets, scoring a career-high 36 points, while adding 5 assists and 4 boards. Jabari is just the second 20-year old since 1983 to score over 35 points while making just 3 free throws and 1 three-pointer, according to Basketball-Reference.com. He’s been over his scoring average for the year every game since the All-Star Game.
Jabari has figured out that he can be a one man fast break at this level. His jumpshot is going down, and he’s been creative at the rim going against taller defenders. He’s been more assertive and aggressive, which is what the Bucks would like to see out of the former #2 pick. If the Bucks want to actually “Own the Future” as their mantra says, they need Parker to be a night-to-night 20-point scorer.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple double against the Rockets, scoring 18 points, grabbing 17 boards, and tallying 11 assists. The Greek Freak and Jabari Parker are the youngest teammates to ever record a triple-double and score 35 points in the same night. Oh yeah… that’s right, Giannis is only 21 and Jabari is only 20.
The development of Jabari Parker is happening coincidentally (or maybe not) right before a matchup with a familiar foe: Andrew Wiggins.
The Bucks and Timberwolves face off tonight (Friday night), and it will feature the third NBA game between Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker. Parker is averaging 11.5 PPG against the Wolves, and Wiggins is averaging 16.5 PPG against the Bucks. Most importantly, Jabari is 2-0 so far in his NBA career against Wiggins.
Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker were once looked at as the future faces of the NBA. With the steady consistency of Wiggins and the sudden emergence of Parker, the top two picks of the 2014 draft are becoming possible cornerstones for midwest franchises who haven’t had a lot of hope in the recent past. Throw in other young talents on each teams such as Antetokounmpo for the Bucks and Karl Anthony-Towns for the Timberwolves, and Friday night’s game between the two teams could be a look at the future of the NBA.