Former Boston Celtics forward officially agrees to deal with European side, Barcelona
The 28-year-old, six-foot-eight forward former big man for the Boston Celtics from April 2021 to the beginning of 2022, Jabari Parker, has officially put pen to paper on a contract with FC Barcelona Bàsquet.
The news was confirmed by the club at 1:00 p.m. EST on Monday. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the deal is worth $2 million with an NBA-opt-out clause included in it. It was first speculated on Friday afternoon on the east coast that there was interest between both parties per Jose Ignacio Huguet and Lucas Clemente of Mundo Deportivo over in Spain. He now joins former Washington Wizard Tomas Satoransky, and ex-New Orleans Pelican Willy Hernangomez on the defending Liga ACB champions. He was slated to return to the Milwaukee Bucks this summer, competing for their NBA 2K24 Summer League team, but interestingly pulled out before the campaign kick-off.
The last time Parker stepped on an NBA floor was with the Celts back in January 2022 in a win against the Orlando Magic. In total, the former No. 2 overall selection contributed in 26 games for the green and white, donning the No. 20 jersey. He never started a game in green, averaging 5.3 points in 11.4 minutes per game. His most memorable game with Boston was the last regular season contest against the New York Knicks when he came off the bench to score 18 points while snatching seven rebounds in a loss.
https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1688596015283159046?s=20
His lack of defensive versatility in the position in which he was scheduled to contribute in was the reason for his downfall in the association. To be able to play the four or five in the league today, simply putting the ball in the basket is not going to get the job done. While he did shoot over 51% from the floor during his time with the Celtics, his past injuries no doubt affected his explosiveness on both ends of the floor.
Though he may be considered one of the biggest NBA busts in recent memory, you cannot help but feel bad for a guy who consistently had some of the worst luck throughout his professional career in the United States. He only joined the Boston Celtics due to the injuries that the team suffered ahead of the 2021 postseason where the squad lacked Jaylen Brown and his scoring.
The former Boston Celtics role player has his eyes set on reviving his career with a quality European side
Parker is slated to replace former NBA player Nikola Mirotić in the Barcelona lineup who left for Olimpia Milano this summer. Mitrotic was named the Liga ACB Finals MVP as his Barca side swept Real Madrid 3-0 to hoist the league title.
At his age, it is unlikely that an NBA comeback is in the cards, but that does not mean he cannot return to the player he was at the beginning of his career. Kemba Walker hopes to do the same thing in France this upcoming season. For basketball fans around the world, especially ones in the NBA, it would be a special story if Parker breaks out over in Europe.
Jabari Parker’s first meaningful contest with Barcelona is against last season’s fourth-place finishers in Spain, Joventut Badalona on September 24 at 12:30 p.m. EST.