Jabari Parker was visibly emotional during a recent interview while playing basketball overseas. On Monday, the former NBA No. 2 overall pick explained why he was moved to tears.
After his FC Barcelona team was defeated 3-0 by Real Madrid in the Liga ACB semifinals on Sunday, Parker spoke with Marc Mundet of Jijantes and became tearful, struggling to speak when asked about his first year playing outside the United States.
The interview quickly spread on X, sparking widespread speculation about the reasons behind Parker’s emotional display.
Parker later explained to Mundet that his tears were actually tears of joy and gratitude for his new team, which had rekindled his passion for basketball.
“It was gratitude for this organization for giving me an opportunity. For my teammates, for making me happy about this experience. … Because of this place, I found my love for the game again,” Parker shared in a subsequent interview.
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He expressed his newfound enthusiasm for the sport: “I wasn’t sure if I was playing basketball again. But because of FC Barcelona, the fans, my teammates, my coaches, my friends here, I found that love again and that passion.”
After struggling to secure a spot with an NBA team, Parker joined FC Barcelona in August. Shortly after, he criticized the NBA for being “watered down” and commended European leagues for their “legitimacy.”
Parker, a Duke University alum, faced a challenging NBA career marred by multiple knee injuries that impacted his performance. He last played for the Boston Celtics during the 2021-22 season, participating in only 12 games and averaging 4.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
He was set to join the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2023 NBA Summer League but withdrew for personal reasons.
