Jabari Parker drafted as the No. 2 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft
By Amie Just
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The first two picks for the 2014 NBA Draft came as no surprise as Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) was selected first by the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jabari Parker was selected second by the Milwaukee Bucks.
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Rounding out the top ten were Kansas’ Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76’ers), Arizona’s Aaron Gordon (Orlando Magic), Australia’s Dante Exum (Utah Jazz), Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics), Kentucky’s Julius Randle (Los Angeles Lakers), Michigan’s Nik Stauskas (Sacramento Kings), Indiana’s Noah Vonleh (Charlotte Hornets) and Lousiana-Lafayette’s Elfrid Payton (Orlando Magic via proposed trade with the Philadelphia 76’ers)
After being drafted, Parker seemed pleased with being chosen by Milwaukee.
“I’m going to bring everything I got,” said Parker in a post-draft press conference. “You know, you ain’t got to ask for anything else. When I said that I was committed to going to Duke, I gave them everything I had, and even with my high school. So I’m going to try to do the same thing with Milwaukee.”
Even though mock drafts had Wiggins and Parker going one and two, Parker wasn’t sure if he was going first or second.
“I knew that once Andrew Wiggins’ name was called,” said Parker in a post-draft interview. “I didn’t know much about what Cleveland wanted to do. “
As for what Parker is feeling, he’s grateful to have been given the opportunity to be where he is right now.
“I’m really excited because they gave me a chance,” said Parker. “They picked me up and I’m very thankful. I’m going to give them my loyalty. I’m going to give them all my hard work and dedication.”
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Parker is widely considered as one of the most NBA-ready players in this draft. Parker was a consensus first team All-America last season and averaged 19.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 assists on the year. He made splashes in the Duke freshman record books. He set records for points (670), points per game, rebounds (306), double-doubles (14), free throws made (160), free throws attempted (214), dunks (61), double-figure scoring games (33) and 20-point games (18). He added other accolades to his trophy case as well. He was named National Freshman of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year, along with being named to the All-ACC first team.
Parker may be done with college basketball, but he reiterated that he’s nowhere near done playing the game itself and that he will continue to improve as his career goes on.
“I feel like I have a lot more to prove to myself, but I’m not done playing this game of basketball,” said Parker.
“I have too much pride to just blow off a workout and waste other people’s time.”-Jabari Parker
With the rumor mill churning out new rumors every hour and with the power of social media, it’s almost impossible to not hear rumors about yourself. One of the rumors Parker was a little confused about was the rumor that he supposedly tanked his final workout with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I have too much pride to just blow off a workout and waste other people’s time,” said Parker.
Parker became the 27th player to be drafted out of Duke in the first round who played under the helm of Coach Mike Krzyzewski. With Parker being drafted in the first round, Krzyzewski has the most NBA first round draft selections than any other coach in NCAA history.