This draft’s big 3 are now in…
Jabari Parker made the announcement to SI (as you can see in the video above) and he further explained his decision in a written piece on SI.
I haven’t consulted many people during this process. I talked to my parents, though. They simply said it was my decision and they would stand behind me either way. They just want me to be happy.
Ultimately, I boiled my decision down to two simple questions:
Which environment — college or the NBA — offers me the best opportunity to grow as a basketball player?
Which environment — college or the NBA — offers me the best opportunity to grow and develop off the court?
The answer to both questions is undeniably the NBA.
There is something else. My father, Sonny, played in the NBA. I know firsthand that the career span of a pro basketball player is finite. The lucky ones play until their mid-30s. With that perspective, I shrink my professional career with each year that I remain in college. It’s ironic, but true.
Parker is my personal choice of the 3. I know Embiid has a ton of promise and Wiggins’ ceiling might be higher, but I think Parker will be ready to contribute more quickly. I think he can be the high-scoring wing of the future.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
