If you go by Friday night’s performance you’d definitely believe that Jabari Parker has accepted his new role coming off the bench for the Bulls. However, his actions after the game show he may still be throwing a hissy fit about his demotion to a reserve role.
Parker led the Bulls with 19 points off the bench Friday night against the Nuggets, but his fourth-quarter burst wasn’t enough as the Bulls lost 98-93 to close out the preseason. Parker shot 7-of-11 from the field and made 3-for-6 3-pointers, while hauling in six rebounds and adding two assists in 32 minutes.
Yet, for the second straight game Parker made a quick exit out of the locker room, making himself unavailable to speak with the media following the loss.
After scoring a team-high 19 points, Jabari Parker wasn't spotted in the postgame locker room and exited without making himself available to reporters.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) October 13, 2018
The same thing happened before and after the team’s fourth preseason game against the Pacers. That’s when Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg made a lineup change, putting Robin Lopez and Parker on the bench, replacing them with Bobby Portis and rookie Wendell Carter Jr. in the starting five.
Parker declined to speak with reporters after shoot around on Wednesday and then after that night’s game against Indiana he left the locker room early before the media came in. He finally spoke before Friday’s preseason finale and let’s just say it didn’t seem like he and Hoiberg were on the same page.
Hoiberg said he talked with Parker before making the starting lineup change on Wednesday.
Yet, when asked about it on Thursday, Parker gave a different answer.
Jabari Parker: “There wasn’t really any reason given. Just different lineup.”
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) October 11, 2018
So, it seems they had another talk to clear things up.
Via the Chicago Tribune.
“Jabari and I had a good talk again (Friday) morning. He knows how important his role is in that second unit, to be a facilitator on offense. I thought he made some really good reads with the ball in his hands,” Hoiberg said. “That’s an important role. And he understands that.”
And of course before that there was this from Parker that certainly didn’t sit well with fans.
Jabari Parker mostly took the high road in comments about coming off the bench for the #Bulls.
But he was also asked, "Are you willing to take whatever role fits you the best right now?"
He answered: "No comment."
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) October 11, 2018
Now, obviously from the outside looking in this just looks like a ticking time bomb that’s going to explode at any second with Parker. But at least from one player’s perspective, there hasn’t been any issues in the locker room with teammates.
Here’s Kris Dunn on if there are any chemistry concerns after Parker was moved to a bench role.
“Hasn’t affected the locker room at all,” Dunn said. “He’s doing well. He’s still communicating. He’s having a good personality. And he’s not letting it affect the locker room.”
So, who knows, maybe Parker can channel the anger of being moved to the bench into something positive. If he keeps playing like he did Friday night it won’t just benefit him, but everyone around him too.
