Bucks forward Jabari Parker joining NBA All-Star conversation

7:05 p.m. ET Jan. 25, 2017   MILWAUKEE – Jabari Parker is at the doorstep of All-Star inclusion.

Coaches, players, fans and media are on the other side of the door, deciding his fate. The Milwaukee Bucks forward probably won’t make the Eastern Conference All-Star team this season. But if he continues to play the way he’s playing and continues to improve, an All-Star bid is in his near future.

“He’s on the cusp of being a star and one of the best. He’s going through the process. He has to earn his stripes. He doesn’t want it to be handed to him,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. “One of the small steps is winning. When you sprinkle in the ingredients of winning and being consistent and doing what he’s doing on a nightly basis takes you to becoming that star. He’s on the verge of that.”

Even without a 2017 spot on the All-Star team, Parker’s production in his second full season can’t be ignored even with so much attention on All-Star teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Parker, 21, averages 20.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals and shoots 49.2% from the field and 40.1% on three-pointers for the Bucks, who are fighting for a playoff spot in the East.

Among forwards in the NBA, he is 13th in scoring and 13th in three-point shooting percentage among forwards who take at least three attempts per game.

“It’s my experience and confidence in myself,” Parker said. “I got a glimpse of it during the last part of the season last year. It’s keeping that same approach – being there for the team and maximizing my abilities.

“Everything started clicking for me when I started analyzing the game and it became much slower for me. I started taking my time, and things started to work out better for me.”

This is what impresses his coaches and teammates: Parker wants to do more and believes he can do more. The Bucks agree.

Kidd said, “We’re asking a lot early on. We’re asking him to be a leader, to help his teammates offensively and defensively and it takes time.

“One of the small steps is winning. When you sprinkle in the ingredients of winning and being consistent and doing what he’s doing on a nightly basis, that takes you to becoming that star.”

Parker is a threat in the open court with or without the basketball. His finishing touch on transition dunks is top-10 material on a regular basis.

“Getting a chance to run as soon as we get stops, we’re able to bust out. I do a good job of running the lanes, and they do a really good job of finding me,” Parker said.

He is also finding his place in Milwaukee’s half-court offense and becoming more comfortable as a facilitator. He’s shooting 46.4% on right-corner three-pointers and 40.6% on above the break threes, according to nba.com/stats. Parker has the knack for driving to the basket from the baseline and can operate from the top of the key.

“I like playing baseline a lot. I like that spot,” Parker said. “It’s just working my way out to the three-point line and developing a threat. I want to make that a strength.”

Interestingly, Kidd wanted Parker to avoid the three-point shot during his rookie-shortened season and second season. There is an explanation behind that theory.

“We wanted him to become very good at the mid-range and post-up game so that he has something to go to,” Kidd said. “We told him if he trusted us, the three would come. He’s worked hard on the three, and that will get better as he gets older.”

He needs to improve defensively, but he’s getting stronger and showing signs that he will be able to handle the bigger power forwards in the league – perhaps become a better version of Carmelo Anthony.

“It’s going to take time,” Parker said. “The more games I get, the more experiences I have, the better the outcome. Every game is growth for my game and my development, and I’m just eager to learn.”