The Milwaukee Bucks expect to have forward Jabari Parker next week when training camp begins in Madison, Wis.
The 6-foot-8 Parker, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, is returning from knee surgery that prematurely ended his first NBA season.
The Bucks plan to be cautious with Parker during the preseason. He suffered a torn ACL that required surgery after playing in 25 games in 2014-15.
“He’s making progress. Wherever he’s at, if we think he can play 30 minutes, we’ll probably have him play 15,” Bucks general manager John Hammond said.
Bucks coach Jason Kidd plans to watch Parker’s minutes in the early stages of preseason camp.
“He looks extremely good,” Kidd said. “His body has changed and his spirits are extremely high right now, being on the court.”
The Bucks, who reached the playoffs last season, are eager to get Parker back. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds before the injury.
“I think I held up really good because I know where I want to be,” Parker said of the injury. “I accepted the things that happened to me. It’s the reality of it, and right now it’s just building upon those things I have in place and trying to prepare.”