Injured Bucks forward Jabari Parker is still expected back in the lineup the week before the February 18 All-Star Game, Genaro Armas of The Associated Press writes. The 22-year-old is already practicing with the team without restrictions.
Parker’s return will come weeks after the Bucks fired the only NBA coach he ever knew. While there are conflicting accounts about Parker’s relationship with Jason Kidd, there’s no denying that he had a close one with assistant coach Frank Johnson, who was let go after Kidd was.
“It was kind of really hard for me to accept,” Parker told Matt Velazquez of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, noting that he saw Johnson every day and looked forward to their time together. “Not having him by my side is really going to be hard for me.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- After a nine-game absence, Pacers big man Myles Turner needs to shake some rust off and work his way back into game shape, Clifton Brown of The Indianapolis Star writes. “You could see that he was a little hesitant,” head coach Nate McMillan said. “He had an open look that I’ve never seen Myles pass up. We knew he would be a little rusty. We wanted to be patient with him and really watch him.“
- The Cavaliers expect Dwyane Wade back in the lineup on Tuesday, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. The guard has been out of action for two games following the death of his agent Henry Thomas. Thomas is said to have served as a father figure for Wade.
- The Bulls have seen their offense stagnate without Kris Dunn, Mark Strotman of NBC Sports Chicago writes. The sophomore guard’s absence has really driven home the impact that he has on the team when healthy.
Pacers should move Turner, Sabonis is way better.
Nahhh
Lol
Wade has lost his manager/father figure and has had time off to mourn, whereas Isaiah Thomas lost his sister and played that night. I know it’s different for each person, but I wonder what Thomas is thinking about that……
Playoffs are a lot different than meaningless regular season games
Kinda sick of all the Cavs “drama”. Considering it always happens every year and then they make it the championship. As long as they don’t completely fall apart and miss the playoffs entirely. They still have the best player in the East. Arguably the best in the league. And one of the top 25 best ever. They will get out of the east again. May struggle more against the Celtics. But they will still get out
I think Thomas would have taken more time off if it hadn’t happened during the playoffs.