Despite struggles, Bucks coaching staff happy with Jabari Parker's development

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker is still essentially in his rookie year. 

After playing in only 25 games last year before suffering a season-ending ACL injury, Parker is still learning the ropes even though he's in his second year. 

The result has been a lot of up and down performances, with consistency being hard to come by. Even as Parker has struggled a bit, though, interim coach Joe Prunty is still happy with what he's seeing from the second overall pick of the 2014 draft.  

Here's what Prunty told Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:  

"He has had some very good games," Prunty said. "He's been very helpful and he's important to what we do. Obviously there are games where he's going through a learning curve. "I think people tend to look at offensive statistics, but we're always trying to grow on both sides of the ball. So defensively and offensively he's made great strides. We like where he is. But like all our players, we're trying to get better every single day."

Even though it feels like he's been on the NBA radar for a long time now, Parker is still just 20 years old. Some growing pains, especially after a major injury, is to be expected.