Jabari Parker arrived at Partizan in the summer of 2025 with enormous expectations and what was, at the time, the biggest contract in the club’s history.
A former NBA No. 2 draft pick who had already spent two seasons with Barcelona, Parker was supposed to become one of Partizan’s leaders under Željko Obradović. Instead, his time in Belgrade turned into a difficult chapter marked by disappointing performances, a coaching change, a breakdown in his relationship with the club and, eventually, his exclusion from the team.
For much of that period, Parker’s side of the story remained largely unheard.
Now, following the mutual termination of his contract with Partizan, the American forward has spoken at length in an exclusive interview with Sport Klub.
Parker discussed Obradović’s departure, a frightening incident involving supporters at the team’s practice facility, the hostility directed at players during games and the circumstances in which Joan Peñarroya removed him from the rotation.
He also described the isolation of training separately from his teammates, questioned the public explanation given for his absence and revealed where his career might take him next.
Throughout the conversation, Parker repeatedly stressed that he did not want to blame individuals or undermine Partizan’s current team. He insisted that he still wished the club and his former teammates success.
Here are the most revealing answers from his interview with Sport Klub.
How Did Željko Obradović’s Departure Affect Parker?
“It was a unique experience. I wouldn’t say anybody was to blame. At the end of the day, we’re talking about a team. There are things I could have done better, just as there are things everybody could have done better.
“When you make a commitment, you have to see it through. I knew that when things weren’t going well, there was a temptation to give up. Everybody wanted to give up, to throw in the towel.
“But then certain things happened with the coach (Obradović). He’s the man who decided to resign. Why he did that is for him to explain. Maybe it’s important to make that clear. He never explained his decision to me.
“But I had a personal conversation with him, and he’s a man who commands respect. He was one of the reasons I wanted to be part of Partizan. I wanted to take on that challenge, just as he took on the challenge with me. He took a risk on me, and I took a risk on him. That mutual commitment meant a lot to me.
“When I saw that he had left, I was surprised. And then everything else started falling apart.”
Parker also explained how he saw the situation after the departure of the coach who had brought him to Belgrade.
“Everything always starts with the leader. My job as a player is to show up for practice and follow instructions to the best of my ability. When you remove the leader, the man everybody relies on, things become difficult.”
What Happened When Partizan Fans Stormed the Practice Facility?
“When the coach left, we had a practice. It was after the first FIBA international window, in November.
“All the kids in the neighborhood, and the people who knew where our practice facility was, knew we usually practiced in the morning. Practice would start at 11 and finish around one. Kids would wait outside after school and ask to take pictures with us.
“But that day we had practice at a very unusual time, around six in the evening.
“What surprised me most was seeing around 2,000 fans outside our practice facility. They had bricks, they rushed in and broke into the building, and they were threatening us.
“It almost felt to me as though the whole thing had been set up. Because who could have given them that information? Who could have told them when we would be there?
“I found it very strange and suspicious that people who weren’t part of the team knew when we were coming to the arena, especially because we normally practiced in the morning. I don’t know. What would you think if you found yourself in a situation where your safety was at risk?
“Somebody who knew about the practice had obviously passed that information on to other people.”
Parker described the incident as deeply distressing, particularly because of the environment in which he grew up.
“I come from a different background. When somebody breaks into a house, when violence breaks out, when weapons are involved, those things can trigger post-traumatic stress.
“So it was a very intense experience for me. I didn’t know what to do because the whole situation brought back certain traumas and stressful experiences from my past.
“And from that moment, the question becomes: How are you supposed to play when people are that angry?
“I come from America, and this is Serbia. Serbian culture has been through many wars, and people here are much tougher. Maybe they didn’t intend to threaten us in that way, but I’m not used to that kind of violence in the workplace.”
How Did Parker Feel When Fans Turned Against Their Own Players?
“I don’t know why the fans did that. I don’t know why they were angry with us.
“We weren’t responsible for the coach leaving. He knows he did what he thought was best for himself. He’s a grown man. He has the right to make his own decisions. He doesn’t owe anybody an explanation.
“And then we started losing under the pressure of all that madness.
“It’s fine for fans to keep supporting us in a positive way, but why would somebody come to a game just to throw things at the players?
“Do you want us to win, or are you coming in already expecting the worst, having decided beforehand that you’re going to throw batteries, lighters or beer at somebody?
“That really affected me. Because we’re going to show up on the court regardless.
“And when you’re part of a team, there’s no point in pointing fingers at anybody. We’re all in it together. We all make mistakes. It was a completely different environment. A completely different situation for me.”
Why Did Joan Peñarroya Remove Parker From the Team?
“Here’s how it happened.
“I had a heel injury. I think we were playing an ABA League game when I hurt my heel, so I was out for a week. After that, I had a few practices where I was gradually working my way back into the team.
“Then, at one practice, the coach simply decided that I wouldn’t take part in the rest of the session. He told me to go to the exercise bike.
“I was making some mistakes because I’d been away from the team for a while, and some new plays had been introduced in the meantime. He expected me to learn them immediately. So he told me to go to the bike.
“The next day, I showed up for practice again. He told me I wouldn’t be practicing. Instead of having a conversation with me, he simply informed me that I would be staying in Belgrade. That’s why I didn’t travel to Munich, where the team had a game.
“That was when I found out I was out of the rotation. I was separated from the team. I don’t know why.”
Parker was keen to make clear that his account was not intended as an attack on Peñarroya or his former teammates.
“I don’t want to hurt anybody by talking about this situation.
“Let’s make something clear right away. The team is playing very well now. So let it stay that way. I want those guys to succeed.
“Please make sure you emphasize that. I hope you publish the entire conversation, because I don’t want to hurt anybody with this interview.
“I still wish Joan all the best. He was my coach. I want him to succeed. As a coach, he has to make those decisions. I understand that.
“I’m answering the questions you’re asking me. That’s all I’m doing. I’m talking about it because people don’t know what happened.”
Parker also challenged Peñarroya’s public explanation that his physical condition was the reason he was no longer part of the team.
“Yes, it was said that I wasn’t in shape. That I needed to work on my fitness. The coach said that publicly, and I don’t think you should do things like that.
“When you’re part of a team, you protect your team. That’s why it hurt me. We had enjoyed success together before. We reached the playoffs. He was a coach who relied on me when I played for his team.
“I helped his career. Actually, you could say we helped each other through our success together.
“So it made me very uncomfortable when he told the media that I wasn’t in shape and that was why I had to stay out of the team. I thought it was too personal. I didn’t feel he had protected me.
“I underwent certain tests. And the whole story about my physical condition didn’t make sense because all my results were the same as before.
“When I check my body weight, body fat percentage and fitness, the training center has the results of all those measurements. I have documentation showing that the numbers were the same. Even when I was at Barcelona, the results were practically identical.
“So the claim that I needed to improve my physical condition wasn’t the whole truth.
“I would have preferred it if they’d simply said I was out of the rotation. That it was the coach’s decision. I would have accepted that much more easily.
“But if you say I’m not physically fit, I have the results. I can show them. And that’s not fair to me.
“When you accuse somebody of something, you have to be very precise.”
What Was Life Like When Parker Had to Train Alone?
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“It was difficult. I wasn’t given an opportunity from the moment they decided, for whatever reason, that I would no longer be involved with the team. I don’t know why they made that decision.
“But I never gave up. That’s what I want to say. I never gave up. I stayed true to my commitment.
“I just wanted to come to practice. That’s all. I just wanted to practice.
“Even after the medical examinations and fitness tests, I didn’t take part in training camp with the team. And all I wanted was to do whatever was necessary to get back on the court.
“I didn’t practice with the team. I had a completely separate schedule.
“But first of all, I want to give credit to my strength and conditioning coach. He’s one of the assistant coaches at the club. His name is Žile.
“He didn’t have to stay at work longer because of me. But whatever he told me to do, I did it. And he knows that.
“If he told me I had to find some extra strength and run on the treadmill for 30 minutes, I did it. Because I didn’t see it as punishment. I was doing it for myself, to challenge myself.
“He and I were the only support I had. He could work with me after the team’s practice. I stayed longer at the gym.
“And it was in those moments that I found something beautiful, even though there wasn’t much hope. I went back to the true essence of basketball.
“By refusing to give up. By showing up on time, coming to the gym and practicing. All of that brought back my love for basketball and my hunger for the game.
“My days were very dark. I didn’t go anywhere. I would go to the gym and then come home. The next day, I’d wake up and just wait until I could go to practice again.
“That was my daily routine. I wish I’d been given another chance. But that’s OK. These things happen, and life goes on.”
Where Will Parker Play Next?
“There were some discussions early on. What was offered to me at that point didn’t make sense.
“And when something doesn’t make sense to me, my responsibility is to keep working. To put in hours and hours of practice. That’s my job.
“I think that, after everything, both sides finally reached an agreement.
“For me, what’s important is that after two months of doing the same things every day, I became a better person and a better basketball player.
“Now I think it’s time to take everything I’ve done, all those hours I’ve put into practice, and use them somewhere else.
“I could have decided to stay here, under all those circumstances, and simply stagnate. But I want to start showing what I can do again. I want to show my talent.
“I’m ready for that. I’m ready to play for any club that decides to sign me. And I’m excited about it.”
Asked about possible destinations, Parker mentioned two Spanish clubs where he had previously played.
“The people who were at Barcelona when I played there are no longer at the club. So they have no obligation to bring me back. That’s not a realistic possibility.
“There’s a chance I could return to Joventut. That door is always open because we had success there. It will take some more conversations and a little patience.
“But as I always say, the true measure of a man isn’t how he behaves when he’s comfortable and everything is going his way. His character shows in moments of doubt and criticism.
“I think that’s when I found my character. I think I’m ready.
“Wherever my next stop is, I’ll give my best because I’ve never betrayed my principles. I’ve never pointed fingers at other people.
