Partizan and Jabari Parker mutually terminate contract

Basketball club Partizan has officially announced the mutual termination of its contract with American forward Jabari Parker. The former NBA second overall pick had joined the Belgrade-based club with high expectations, but his tenure proved unsuccessful, leading to a loan spell with Spanish side Joventut Badalona.

Parker's departure follows a turbulent period for both the player and the club. In recent interviews, Parker described his time in Belgrade as a "spiritual experience" but also detailed distressing incidents, including a confrontation where approximately 2,000 fans allegedly entered a training facility with bricks to threaten players. He also expressed surprise at the departure of coach Zeljko Obradovic, noting that the coach's decision was a primary reason for his initial move to the club.

Financial assessments of the deal suggest it was a significant loss for Partizan. Reports indicate the club spent nearly $5 million on Parker, with calculations suggesting his performance resulted in a cost of approximately 22,000 euros per point scored. By reaching a settlement to terminate the contract, the club reportedly saved roughly $1.2 million in projected future payments.