Bucks’ Jabari Parker Out 12 Months With ACL Tear

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker suffered a torn ACL in the third quarter of Wednesday’s 106-88 home loss to the Miami Heat.

Bucks’ Jabari Parker Tears Left ACL, Out One Year

Bucks coach Jason Kidd said a 12-month recovery period is expected for the 21-year-old swingman, who will require surgery on an unspecified date. Parker previously tore his ACL on the same (left) knee for the first time in December 2014 (his rookie season) in a game in Phoenix, and returned in early November 2015.

Parker was averaging a career-high 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds as Milwaukee’s second-leading scorer behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“I think it’s always tough, any time you have a serious injury for anybody, an athlete or a normal person,” Kidd said. “But just to go through the same injury again is extremely tough. The positive, he’s young and he understands. He’s gone through it and he knows what he has to do.”

Kidd became emotional in discussing Parker’s injury, recalling the first time it happened.

“Jabari goes down and all I can think about is Phoenix,” the coach said. “Then understanding, hopefully, it wasn’t serious. Then also getting back to trying to find us a spark to get us back in the game. So there was a lot going on.”

Parker went down with 6:34 remaining in the third quarter after being pushed by a defenseman on a drive to the lane. His left knee did not make contact but buckled.

This injury occurred the same day the Bucks welcomed back key guard Khris Middleton, who missed the first 50 games of the season after tearing his hamstring in training camp.

The Bucks (22-29), who are 11th in the Eastern Conference, fell to the Heat on Wednesday to mark their 11th loss in 13 games. Milwaukee next host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. Miami, meanwhile, have won 12 straight.

Parker’s injury killed the mood but the players have to rebound from it, guard Malcolm Brogdon stated after practice.

“This is one of those things that can either tear us apart or allow us to rebuild and be even stronger as a unit,” the 24-year-old Brogdon said. “Hopefully, it’s the latter and we come together more and we rely on each other.

“I think everybody was crushed yesterday and today. For me it was worse than the loss, seeing him go down. That’s the worst thing that can really happen. A guy gets injured. Even when you’re not winning games, when one of your main guys goes down, it’s tough to see.”

ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 15: Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks draws a charge from Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks at Philips Arena on January 15, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.