Two negative surprises have come with news for Joventut de Badalona, who have managed to incorporate the forward/center until the end of the season to their joy. The player, who will begin training with his new team on Monday, arrives on loan from Partizan Belgrade.
The story began three seasons ago, in training, as he suffered two serious knee injuries. After a few days, however, the club notified him that it was signing him, everyone surprised by his dedication on the park and by his good physical condition, in addition to a basketball that had already promised a lot in its beginnings, since he went from being Duke’s university star to number two in the draft of the NBA in 2014 – ahead of Embiid and Jokic, for example -, of a rookie that attracted flashes and rivals to a player in the rebound who after leaving the Bucks went through five teams (Bulls, Wizards, Hawks, Kings and Celtics).
But in Barcelona he met again, a capital player with Grimau. Not so much, however, with Peñarroya the following year, who handed the keys to the team to Punter. , who are one of those who shoot rather than ask for permission, did not fit into the same team. Or that, at least, is what the sports area justified at the end of the year to the chagrin of the fans and part of the board. A setback, also, morrocotudo for the player, who had already declared his unconditional love for the club and the city, a regular subway passenger and visitor to the beaches or the city’s monuments, an avid reader and a person committed to human rights.
With his bags packed, Parker signed for Partizan Belgrade. And, although it started well – not so for the team -, he soon received other bad news, well, he was bounced from Barcelona. And the sparks flew. “Jabari did not train last week and it is obvious that he is out of shape,” declared the coach a few days after his arrival; “He has to train, recover and improve his form a lot. Without that, he can’t be part of the team.” And he concluded: “Jabari’s situation is his problem. If you want to be on the team, you have to prove it every day in training. It’s simple” Some words that the player did not digest.
With the problem resolved, the club has now opted to let Parker leave until the end of the season. And Joventut, who aspires to play the final four of the Basketball Champions League to be played in Badalona, will pay a part of Parker’s salary, which comes to reinforce a position that had been weakened since the departure of Sam Dekker.
