Jabari Parker Says Being a Laker ‘Would Be a Blessing’

Current Duke standout and potential top pick Jabari Parker has yet to officially put his name into the 2014 NBA draft.

That hasn't stopped him, however, from fantasizing about life as a professional athlete—or, more specifically, a Los Angeles Laker.

Parker held court with Mark Willard and Mychal Thompson on ESPN 710 AM Friday morning and sounded more than open to the idea of starting his hoops career under the Hollywood lights, via Lakers Nation's Serena Winters:



Parker's full quote, via ESPN 710 AM:

Yeah, likewise what Doug said, we come from the Midwest, where our weather is kind of terrible. So being here would be a blessing. You don't have any excuse not to workout, of any time of day, so it would be a very great opportunity.

The Lakers, along with every other NBA bottom-feeder, could certainly stand to add someone with Parker's NBA-ready array of dynamic offensive weapons. The U.S. Basketball Writers Association's pick as the country's top freshman averaged 19.1 points and shot 47.3 percent from the field during his first (and possibly last) season with the Blue Devils.



Former Duke star and current NBA analyst Grant Hill is already on board with the idea of Parker as a Laker.

"He’s the most ready and has a chance to be hugely successful right away," Hill said after naming Parker as the player L.A. should select if it lands the No. 1 pick, via Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. "He’s a quality small forward and he’s a guy who could come in and play with Kobe Bryant right away. When Kobe retires, Jabari could be the face of the franchise."

Kobe Bryant has already said he's ready and willing to mentor either Parker or Kansas freshman phenom Andrew Wiggins:



Obviously, a few things have to happen to get from this point to that one.



First and foremost, P...

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