NBA: 15 players looking to shed injury-prone label in 2017-18

7. Jabari Parker

Make that two out of three NBA seasons prematurely ended by an ACL tear for Jabari Parker. Though he played a career-high 76 games in his second season, it was sandwiched by a 25-game rookie campaign and a 51-game season in 2016-17, with both being cut short by a torn ACL in the same left knee.

This obviously sucks for the Milwaukee Bucks, who are starting to put together something really promising between Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Thon Maker, Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, Tony Snell and Parker. In fact, they could be one team that has “next” when the Golden State Warriors’ reign ends.

Unfortunately, Parker’s best season yet — 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, .490/.365/.743 shooting splits — was chopped down in its prime by an injury that would’ve been worrisome if it had only been the first time.

Throw in his restricted free agency next summer and it’s imperative that Parker can return fully healthy at some point in 2017-18 and put questions about his future to bed.