ST. FRANCIS, Wis. -- As the Milwaukee Bucks wrapped up their final practice before the season-opener Wednesday against the New York Knicks, coach Jason Kidd expressed confidence that the team will have 2014 first-round draft pick Jabari Parker back in the lineup by early November.
"He looks great. He's done everything," Kidd said after the team's workout Tuesday. "Hopefully, in that first couple of weeks of November, he can come back and start his process, his journey, of playing 10 to 15 minutes a night and hopefully getting his load bigger as the season goes on."
The Bucks have been taking a cautious approach with Parker, 20, as he continues to recover from surgery in January to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. Parker, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft, has been practicing with the team.
Milwaukee will also be without another of its young stars, forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was suspended for the opener for decking Mike Dunleavy of the Chicago Bulls during Game 6 of last season's first-round playoff series.
"We've got to make it work," guard Michael Carter-Williams said of Antetokounmpo's one-game absence. "We'll be ready with whoever replaces Giannis."
This year's first-round pick, Rashad Vaughn, returned to practice Tuesday after sitting out Monday's workout because of a sore right shoulder. O.J. Mayo remained sidelined with an injured hamstring.
The Bucks will open at home for the first time since the 1984-85 season, when the team played at the Milwaukee Arena. The Bucks have played at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, now the league's third-oldest arena, since 1988.
"It's great for the city. It's great for the organization and the team," Carter-Williams said. "We're excited."
