Jabari Parker still has love for the team and the city that drafted him.
Speaking on Wednesday before his Atlanta Hawks faced his former club, the Milwaukee Bucks, Parker spoke fondly about his time with the team and left the door open for a possible return after the 2019-20 season.
“It’s real special, man, how they were able to build this building,” said Parker, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “I haven’t played here but just seeing the growth of the city, I really like the way it’s developing. It’s just so sad I’m not able to share it with them and that they moved on, but that’s fine, that’s business. But I do have like a little homesickness from being here. I just miss being here.”
“I would never rule out a possible return here,” the 24-year-old continued. “I would never do that. It’s just so sad how it ended and I wish I could’ve stayed.”
Parker, who has a player option with the Hawks for next season, was drafted by the Bucks with the No. 2 overall pick in 2015. He spent the first four years of his career in Milwaukee, but two separate ACL tears led to the team pulling his qualifying offer in 2018 free agency and Parker’s ultimate departure.
There were questions about Parker’s relationship with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo at the time, but Parker himself seems fully game for a return.
