Jabari Parker doesn’t seem comfortable coming off the Bulls’ bench.
The 23-year-old forward did not start in Chicago’s 104-89 preseason win over the Pacers on Wednesday. He could be asked to play on the Bulls’ second unit when they open 2018-19 against the 76ers next week.
“It would be a huge adjustment for me,” Parker said about not starting (via the Chicago Tribune). “But I just have to change with the times.”
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said he is “still evaluating” the team's lineup combinations.
“We used him in more of a facilitating role and put the ball in his hands as really kind of a point forward,” Hoiberg said. “I liked the look of it.
“I wanted to shake things up. … And I liked the way it looked really for the entire 48 minutes. I thought guys gave great energy. It was about putting guys in different roles and using Jabari in a facilitating, point-forward-type role.”
Parker signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Bulls in the offseason. He has tallied 9.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in four preseason games.
The Bucks originally selected Parker out of Duke with the second pick in the 2014 draft. But, he has struggled with injuries throughout his career.
Parker missed most of last season after he suffered his second torn ACL in February 2017. He returned for 31 games and averaged 12.6 points and 4.9 rebounds.
Parker is a career 35.2 percent 3-point shooter.
