Playing abroad, two Boston Celtics alumni approach the Euroleague from different perspectives

Kemba Walker and Jabari Parker are embarking on EuroLeague careers with very different perspectives on what they are leaving behind.

When a prominent player in the NBA ends up at a stage of his career where he ends up playing overseas, one of two responses seems to be the outcome — embracing a new opportunity, or dwelling on the loss of an old one. And for a pair of Boston Celtics alumni and former teammates currently suiting up for EuroLeague ball clubs, one can see a bit of both.

Former star Celtics floor general and UConn standout Kemba Walker has left the Association to play for AS Monaco in the (mostly) French LNB Pro-A and EuroLeague, while mostly unsuccessful reclamation project and 2014 second overall pick Jabari Parker is playing for FC Barcelona in Spain’s ACB and the EuroLeague as well.

Asked why he elected to come to Europe by EuroHoops’ Alex Molina, Parker did not mince words; “I just want to be a part of something legitimate.”

Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 20

Today’s installment focuses on the 31 players who wore No. 20 over the years as of August 2023.

The Boston Celtics have more retired jerseys than any other team in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean the rest of their jerseys have little history of interest tied to them.

In fact, with 17 titles to their name and decades of competitive basketball, their unretired jersey numbers pack in some of the most history not hanging from the rafters of any team in the league. To that end, we have launched our accounting of that history with every player in every jersey worn by more than one Celtics player in the storied franchise’s history accounted for.

Today’s installment focuses on the 31 players who wore No. 20 over the years as of August 2023.

Former Celtic Jabari Parker agrees to deal with FC Barcelona

Former No.2 overall pick Jabari Parker is headed to FC Barcelona on a one-year deal.

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Former Boston Celtics forward Jabari Parker is taking his talents overseas and will sign a one-year deal with FC Barcelona of Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. The No. 2 pick in the 2014 NBA draft is set to earn an estimated $2 million, and, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the deal includes an NBA opt-out clause.

Injuries have been a persistent problem for the 28-year-old Parker. He suffered two torn ACLs in the same knee during his first few seasons in the league. When he signed with the Celtics in April of 2021, Parker had bounced around the league. His time in the Hub had a few moments; Parker had a solid stint with the Celtics in a limited bench role. Boston waived Parker in January 2022.

Parker was most recently a member of the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2023 summer league roster before signing with FC Barcelona. Like fellow former Celtic  Kemba Walker, the move to play in Europe could be an opportunity to showcase his game and continue his journey as a professional basketball player.

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Former Celtics forward Jabari Parker reportedly working out with the Phoenix Suns

Former Boston Celtics forward Jabari Parker is reportedly planning to work out with the Phoenix Suns today.

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Former Boston Celtics forward Jabari Parker is planning to work out with the Phoenix Suns today per recent reporting from Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes. Parker, whose last NBA gig was with the Celtics in the 2021-22 NBA season under then-Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, has kept a low profile since.

Parker, the No. 2 pick of the 2014 NBA draft, had joined the Celtics at the end of the season prior in an effort to rehabilitate his value in the league after a disappointing stint with the Sacramento Kings. That effort did not pan out with his poor defense being the primary culprit, with Parker being cut by Boston in January of 2022.

The Chicago native had played a total of 22 games for the ball club over two seasons, averaging 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 51.2% from the field and 38.5% from deep.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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On this day: Celtics Connie Simmons, Brady Walker, Jim Janisch, Jabari Parker born; Coty Clarke debuts

On this day, Celtics Connie Simmons, Brady Walker, and Jim Janisch came into this world, and Coty Clark made his Boston debut.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Celtics center Cornelius “Connie” Leo Simmons was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1925.

Simmons did not play college ball, instead making the leap directly from New York City’s Flushing High School to the Celtics in Boston’s inaugural season of 1946-47. It would also be the very first season of the Basketball Association of America (BAA — a precursor league of the NBA), of which Boston was a founding member. Simmons would play parts of two seasons for the Celtics, having been traded midway through the 1947-48 season to the (now defunct) Baltimore Bullets.

The Newark native would average 9.4 points per game with Boston.

How does Paolo Banchero compare to recent Duke lottery picks?

How does Paolo Banchero compare to past Blue Devil lottery selections? What Duke player is he most similar to?

As Paolo Banchero approaches the 2022 NBA draft, he stands to be next in a long line of Duke lottery selections. This was, of course, intentional. Over the years, many high school recruits have tied their fates to Duke University and Coach K with both the hope and expectation that the brand would elevate their status.

Looking over the last decade, there’s an argument to be made that Banchero is the most unique Duke prospect yet. He stands at 6’10” and a staggering 250 pounds with the finesse to score anywhere on the floor but the strength to pound the rock inside. This is complemented by a willingness to handle the ball and distribute to run the offense. Banchero is the definition of a modern “point forward” and was often tasked to do just that during his freshman campaign at Duke. He averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists while helping propel the Blue Devils to their first Final Four since 2014.

However, part of coming from such a prestigious program is the inevitable thought exercise: How does Banchero compare to those who preceded him? Jabari Parker (2014), Jahlil Okafor (2015), Brandon Ingram (2016), Jayson Tatum (2017), Marvin Bagley (2018) and Zion Williamson (2019) were all Duke forwards who went in the top three of the draft. Though Banchero projects to have occupied the same position and go equally high in the draft, there are a lot of differences between the 2022 prospect and his fellow Blue Devils.

To begin, Banchero is not a back-to-the-basket scorer and is nothing like Okafor. Okafor was a true back-to-the-basket big man during his tenure at Duke and more frequently manned the center position than the power forward position. A wonderful college player in his own right, Okafor lacked the versatile offensive skillset that Banchero brings to his eventual team and was much more a representation of the traditional five.

Bagley could be examined in a similar light. Although now frequently ridiculed by virtue of being the pick before Luka Doncic, he was a great college player. Bagley had a stunning 21 points per game on 61% shooting. However, at 6-foot-11, he operated as a much truer post player in a fashion more similar to Okafor than Banchero.

There is speculation that, at his current playing weight, Banchero may be able to close lineups as a “stretch center” that is well optimized to take advantage of how small some NBA lineups are today. However, that massive level of projection from what he showed at the college level means fans may want to look elsewhere for their expectations.

In the same breath, Williamson equally feels like a poor comparison for Banchero. Zion lit up the NCAA en route to becoming the unanimous No. 1 overall selection and going first overall to New Orleans. Banchero’s game lacks the sheer physical domination that Williamson brought to the court. Rather, he happily works a large portion of his offensive game from both the mid-range jump shot and outside the perimeter while Zion feasted on inferior college athletes on the interior.

Three players who, despite scoring at a high clip, did so in a very different fashion than Banchero projects to do at the next level. Despite the similar size, they’re poor comparisons.

This leaves us with Ingram and Tatum, both All-Stars in 2021, and Bagley and Parker as the remaining fair comparisons.

Fans of Banchero, especially those in Houston, may be quick to point to Ingram or even Tatum as great comparisons. All three players averaged roughly 17 points per game. Both Ingram and Tatum had the perimeter game that makes Banchero so unique as a prospect and, truthfully, it’s always more fun to compare to successful NBA players.

The one problem here? Banchero might be too large. Tatum was listed at 6’8” and 205 pounds in college and Ingram at 6’9” and 190 pounds. This is a 50-pound difference that can make a world of difference in terms of perimeter quickness on both the offensive and defensive fronts. Their small frames were a huge reason it took a few seasons for the pair to truly succeed at the NBA level. At the college level, this showed up in their lower shooting percentages (44% and 45% respectively) while Banchero got baskets inside that yielded a 47.8% clip from the field.

The Boston Celtics were patient as Tatum filled out his frame and have been awarded with an MVP caliber player that propelled them to the NBA Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers were less patient and have now been forced to watch Ingram flourish into an All-Star caliber player with the Pelicans. Whoever drafts Banchero will likely not have to wait as long for their player to be “NBA strong.”

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Finally, this leaves Parker from 2014.

Parker had a similar frame to Banchero at 6’8” and 235 pounds and used it to play a more traditional frontcourt role with the Blue Devils. Parker averaged 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest while attempting three 3-point shots per game, compared to Banchero’s 3.3 per game. They have remarkably similar effective field goal percentages (.511 vs. .52 for Banchero) and free-throw shooting percentages (73.8 vs. 72.9 for Banchero). Both players were dominant scorers who could find points at every level of the court.

Per 100 minutes, Banchero carried a 113.8 offensive rating and a 98.1 defensive rating. Parker? The 2014 forward held a 115.0 offensive rating and a 99.3 defensive rating during his time at Duke. The similarities are stark.

Should Banchero’s similarities to a player widely regarded as a bust for Milwaukee serve as a red flag? Probably not. Banchero has ball-handling skills and a passing game that far surpasses what Parker was entering the NBA with nearly eight years ago. The game has evolved to focus on the perimeter and basketball prospects, like Banchero, have evolved to resemble that. Additionally, Parker’s injuries must be acknowledged here.

Parker averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds a game as a rookie before tearing his ACL in his first season. Khris Middleton arrived on the Bucks that same season and turned into the complementary scorer that was needed next to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Parker tore the ligament again in 2017 and NBA fans never got to see the Duke product in his full powers.

Overall, Parker feels like the best comparison. A potentially more dynamic Parker with better playmaking and passing skills is an amazing compliment in terms of the Duke-only criteria. Maybe the absurdity of that statement alone is a testament to just how unique and dynamic Banchero is.

Only time will tell how Banchero performs compared to his peers at Duke but one thing is for certain: It’s going to be fun to watch.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Boston Celtics roster news: C’s waive forward Jabari Parker

The Boston Celtics have let forward Jabari Parker go, opening up a roster spot, according to Shams Charania.

The Boston Celtics have waived forward Jabari Parker, according to a report from The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania. The Celtics open up a roster spot ahead of the roster guarantee date with the move. The former No. 2 pick was with Boston for parts of two seasons, seeing the court a total of 22 times.

Parker spent four seasons with Milwaukee to begin his career but has jumped between teams since. The Celtics signed him after the Sacramento Kings waived him in March 2021. He averaged 5.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in Boston. He can be a bench scorer for any team that gives him a chance, but it has to be the right situation. The Celtics didn’t use him consistently in his tenure.

Parker could get signed quick with how many short-term deals ar being given out by teams at this time.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Celtics must cut or guarantee Jabari Parker by 5pm Friday with league-wide guarantee date arriving

Is today Jabari Parker’s last day as a Celtic?

Is today veteran forward Jabari Parker’s last day as a Boston Celtic? Parker, a former No. 2 overall pick, was signed by the Celtics last season as something of a reclamation project, hoping to squeeze a little value out of the Duke product’s career, waylaid with multiple injuries and a notable lack of defense.

The team then re-signed him in the offseason with a partially guaranteed contract to give themselves a bit of a parachute should they want cap relief or to free up his roster spot. Inked for $2,239,544 with approximately half set to become guaranteed if he is not waived by 5pm ET today, there is a not-small chance Boston will have an open roster spot by the end of the business day.

If cap reasons are paramount to a team that looks very unlikely to make much noise in the postseason — and they should be — getting closer to skirting the tax this season is likely a priority for the team’s front office.

And as much as a missed coverage by Parker may confound fans, he has been a reliable source of microwave scoring off the bench when used in short spurts, so it’s not out of the question Boston retains him given he’ll only save them a fraction of a veteran minimum deal.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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B/R analyst sees an opportunity for the Boston Celtics in seldom-used Jabari Parker

But does he see it on both ends of the court?

Could the Boston Celtics have an underused option on their roster who is actually worth playing more than he has been so far this season? According to a new article by Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey, they just might.

On hearing such a hypothetical question posed, most fans of the Celtics will likely immediately think of one of the team’s several young players on rookie contracts, and for good reason. As most coaches tend to, new Boston head coach Ime Udoka leans on his veteran players hard to the detriment of the development of his younger players. But the player Bailey is thinking of is not on a rookie deal even if he is still relatively young as a player at just 26.

The player the B/R analyst is thinking of is none other than veteran forward Jabari Parker.

Shams: Jabari Parker agrees to new deal to re-sign with the Boston Celtics

Details on the signing remain unclear.

Stadium and The Athletic insider Shams Charania reports in a move that might surprise some fans of the Boston Celtics that the team has come to an agreement with former No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker to re-sign with the team after clearing waivers at 5 pm ET on Tuesday, Oct. 19.

The surprise factor comes as Boston is less than 48 hours removed from waiving Parker ahead of his $2.2 million previous contract hitting a $1.1 million partial guarantee at the start of the Celtics 2021-22 NBA season. At a recent press conference, Boston head coach Ime Udoka noted that the team “valued flexibility” when making the decision to waive Parker, but what this means for both the player and the team moving forward is at present still unclear.

HoopsHype salary cap guru Yossi Gozslan notes that signing Parker to a one-year veteran minimum is likely the motive as it would save the Celtics some money in a season they’ll be paying quite a bit of salary, but official details or reporting on the issue remains pending.

Celtics Blog’s Keith Smith notes that such a signing would save Boston over a half-million in luxury tax payments by signing him to a deal worth $1,669,178. Smith also notes Parker will likely not see his deal guaranteed until the league-wide requirement date of Jan. 10, presumably to maintain some of that aforementioned flexibility.

Stay dialed in to the Celtics Wire for more updates on this developing story.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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