Thursday NBA Roundup: Jabari Parker, Milwaukee's Young Stars Coming Together
When you think of young NBA talent, who comes to mind first?
Maybe you're picturing a single budding superstar such as Anthony Davis or Kristaps Porzingis. Perhaps you're considering the Minnesota Timberwolves' contingent of 21-year-old standouts—Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins.
But after the Milwaukee Bucks earned a wasn't-as-close-as-it-sounds 108-97 home victory over the Chicago Bulls on national television Thursday, it's become clear Brewtown's contingent of youthful upside can hang with anyone.
That nasty Jabari Parker slam was one of many highlight-reel moments for the third-year forward from Duke, who exploded for 28 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
However, this isn't new in 2016-17. He's consistently looked the part of an improved player and entered the night averaging 19.4 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 47.0 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from beyond the arc.
This is one of those cases where both the eyes and advanced metrics tell the story: Parker is getting better, and quickly:
It'll be nice if his defense ever comes around, but the length of Milwaukee's troops makes things more palatable. John Henson, Giannis Antetokounmpo and others have the wingspans necessary to wipe away mistakes, which is one of the reasons the Bucks entered Thursday night on the verge of becoming a top-10 defense.
And speaking of Antetokounmpo, he's also making life easier for Parker on offense. Just look how easily he creates a dunk opportunity for his teammate on this second-chance possession:
Even with Parker catching fire, the aptly named Greek Freak remains the star in Milwaukee.
"We have special players that we come across," Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said earlier this season, per Bleacher Report's Dan Favale. "LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan. And Giannis is one of those rare players we'll be able to enjoy for a long time."
Antetokounmpo's fans enjoyed 30 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block against the Bulls, which came as he shot 13-of-27 from the field and 2-of-4 from downtown.
It's terrifying enough he can Eurostep to the basket in transition or use his length to wreak havoc on defense, but he's now showing signs of growing confidence in a jumper that previously looked broken. If two first-quarter threes didn't do the trick, his willingness to loft up long twos might have been the telltale sign.
Lest we forget, Antetokounmpo is 22 years old. He's a developing contributor, and he's already become one of the NBA's most versatile players, leading the Bucks in every major box score category.
Not only is he on the verge of earning legitimate MVP consideration, but he also has a serious case to be called the second-best player in the Eastern Conference, trailing only James.
That may sound like a hot take, but it's not. Per NBA Math, he was leading the East in total points added before his stellar performance against Chicago:
Now here's where your jaw might hit the floor: As good as Antetokounmpo has become without touching his ceiling—he won't get there until he cuts back on turnovers and fouls while developing his jumper—and as impressive as Parker has been on offense, that's not where the young talent ends.
Malcolm Brogdon, the rookie point guard acquired with the 2016 NBA draft's No. 36 pick, also thrived against Chicago by recording five points, two rebounds and seven assists off the bench. This wasn't a fluke; he's been trending up in Rookie of the Year rankings during recent weeks.
Here's what NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper had to say while slotting him at No. 3, behind only Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, in the Dec. 14 edition of his Rookie Ladder:
"Brogdon, like Saric, is enjoying his own shooting surge, at 47.1 percent and 65.4 behind the arc (on 2.6 attempts per) the last 10 games. That has pushed him ahead of Embiid for No. 1 in the class on three-pointers, after the Philadelphia center had the spot for much of the season, with Brogdon at 45.1 percent and Embiid 44.2.
The 45.1 is also worth tenth place in the league, regardless of experience. Among rookies, Brogdon is seventh in scoring, seventh in shooting, fourth in assists and first in assist-to-turnover ratio.
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You can also throw Thon Maker and Rashad Vaughn into the mix, even if both raw prospects rode the pine for the entirety of Thursday's victory. That's what happens when you're overflowing with upside and are already competitive.
Make no mistake, these Bucks are dangerous, and they proved as much while storming out to a double-digit advantage against the Bulls in the first quarter. After the win, they've pulled back to .500 and are trending in the right direction.
Overlook this team, which has the upside necessary to become both a top-10 offense and defense, at your own peril.
Remembering Craig Sager
Craig Sager, a broadcasting legend, died of acute myeloid leukemia on Thursday. The beloved sideline reporter, known for his eye-popping suits and effervescent spirit, touched the lives of so many throughout the sporting world, and he'll be sorely missed.
Nothing we can say will make the loss of his joie de vivre any easier. He represented everything that was good and pure about the world of sports—a statement that shouldn't be considered even the tiniest bit hyperbolic. But in the absence of our words, let's turn to some of his:
That speech from the 2016 ESPY Awards will live on forever, inspiring members of current and future generations. So, too, will videos of his interactions with Kevin Garnett, Gregg Popovich and countless others.
Before you fall asleep Thursday, think back upon your favorite moments and remember this NBA icon fondly. And, if you so desire, feel free to donate in his honor to the SagerStrong Foundation in an effort to support cancer research and education.
Welcome Back, Tyreke Evans
As is typically the case when the New Orleans Pelicans emerge victorious—and they did, beating the Indiana Pacers, 102-95—Davis was a flat-out superstar. Frankly, that's what happens even when they lose.
But even with the big man becoming the first player since 1983 to record at least 35 points, 16 rebounds, five blocks and two triples during a single outing, he may not have been the story of the night.
None of the players who deserve shoutouts on the losing side were, either. Myles Turner (26 points, eight rebounds) was great, as was Jeff Teague (21 points, 10 assists), but they're of secondary importance.
After all, Tyreke Evans played for the first time since Jan. 25, finally working his way back from the multiple knee surgeries that kept him sidelined for nearly 11 months. He logged just 11 minutes against the Pacers, and his line—seven points, three rebounds and two assists—qualifies as little more than nondescript.
But as Pelicans Report's Joe Gerrity noted, he added a new element to the NOLA lineup:
It's great that Davis is dominant, and the Pelicans will be thrilled that Jrue Holiday (16 points, 14 assists) and Buddy Hield (21 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field and a 5-of-8 showing from downtown) both looked excellent. But as they try clawing their way back into the Western Conference playoff picture, it's even more important NOP find another playmaker to help spark an offense that struggles when Holiday and Davis aren't clicking.
Evans has his warts, sure. He's a limited shooter and can often attack the rim at the expense of making the right play. But he's a capable ball-handler and distributor with experience as a primary facilitator, and that's invaluable on the current roster.
If the supporting cast can reach even an adequate level, this Pelicans team will grow far more dangerous. And though it may take him a while to regain his pre-injury abilities, Evans aids that quest.
Full-Strength Nuggets
This was the Denver Nuggets squad we've waited to see.
With Gary Harris returning from his mid-foot injury, everyone was healthy. With Wilson Chandler and Nikola Jokic joining Emmanuel Mudiay, Danilo Gallinari and Harris in the starting five, head coach Mike Malone put his ideal unit on the floor to start the game. And as BSN Denver's T.J. McBride noted, this was the first time we'd seen the full group that led to preseason playoff projections:
The result? A 132-120 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers that featured promising contributions from many different sources.
Gallinari scored a season-high 27 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. Mudiay looked better while surrounded by floor-spacing options who could also handle the rock. Harris dropped an 18-spot during his return. Chandler recorded 17 points and eight rebounds. Jokic did everything, even flashing his dime-dropping ability in a variety of ways:
If that bullet doesn't strike your fancy, how about the touch on this second feed?
Even the bench looked fantastic, with Kenneth Faried almost posting a double-double (11 points, nine rebounds), while Will Barton and Jameer Nelson provided scoring with 15 points each.
This was what Denver fans had been waiting to see. This was the team that looked so promising heading into the year.
Now, we have to find out whether it's sustainable against a stronger defense.
Spurs Keep Rolling
Newsflash: The San Antonio Spurs are good.
Because the latest opposition hasn't made any noise in the Western Conference, their 107-92 victory over the Phoenix Suns won't turn any heads. But on a macro scale, it's just the latest victory in a season filled with them, as the Spurs now move to a scorching 21-5.
Prorate that record out to an 82-game schedule, and you're looking at a 66-16 season for San Antonio. That may not seem significant after the Golden State Warriors broke the wins record in 2015-16, but it's still a level only 16 teams in NBA history have reached.
Surprise, surprise. This is yet another Spurs outfit that just knows how to win.
Stat of the Night: 36 Straight Assists
The Golden State Warriors piled up 36 assists on their first 36 makes from the field during their 103-90 victory over a short-handed version of the New York Knicks.
There was no isolation basketball, no put-back dunks, no one-man shows in transition or anything of the like. Instead, the ball moved freely and got to the open man throughout the night. It wasn't until late in the third quarter, when Ian Clark knocked down the shot below, that Golden State recorded its first unassisted bucket:
When the final buzzer sounded, the Warriors had 41 dimes on 45 makes—good for a 91.1 assist percentage that, among those who also scored in triple figures, has only been bested by 16 different performances since 1983.
Sure, the Dubs were messing around against a hapless Knicks defense once they built up a substantial lead. Stephen Curry and his teammates turned down a number of open shots to keep the assist streak going.
But they still put together one heck of a box score, and the numbers came in an easy win.
This team can't be real.
Thursday's Final Scores
- New Orleans Pelicans 102, Indiana Pacers 95
- Milwaukee Bucks 108, Chicago Bulls 97
- San Antonio Spurs 107, Phoenix Suns 92
- Denver Nuggets 132, Portland Trail Blazers 120
- Golden State Warriors 103, New York Knicks 90
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @fromal09.
Unless otherwise indicated, all stats from Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com or NBA Math and accurate heading into games on Dec. 15.
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