When Jabari Parker was drafted second overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2014 NBA Draft, he couldn’t have imagined at the time that he would miss nearly 150 games due to injury in his first three seasons. After two ACL tears and the subsequent surgeries and grueling rehabilitation periods, though, this is exactly how things unfolded for the 22-year-old forward who is finishing his fourth NBA season, and who was finally able to return to the floor in February—just in time to help the Bucks mount a playoff push.

Suffering two serious non-contact injuries can leave a player searching for answers, and Parker used the time away from the floor to evaluate the variables in his life and career that he can control. He tweaked his diet and training, improved his sleep habits, and worked to find mental clarity amid the non-stop rush of the NBA lifestyle.

Though the start of his career has had more than its share of unexpected roadblocks, Parker’s focus remains firmly on the present. He can thank his carefully cultivated game-day routine for that.

GQ: Have your eating habits or approach to nutrition changed since entering the league three years ago?

Jabari Parker: It definitely has changed. I've been eating clean for the first time in my life. When you grow up where healthy food isn’t easily accessible, you eat a lot of processed food and whatever else is available—McDonalds, fast food, cheap food. Towards my third year, those habits had to change drastically because I was going through another rehab phase [after my second ACL surgery], and I just wanted to do everything in my power to stay healthy. And it makes a difference.

Do you feel a big difference with what you’re putting in your body when you’re playing?

I can definitely feel a change with how I feel. I just had to learn that food is going be there no matter what. We waste so much food. You can’t rely on eating all the time just because it’s there. You can't have the mentality that it’s going to never come back. That’s what I had. I never really knew when I was going to eat again, so that’s why I would enjoy food—especially if it was good food, I would take it all in one portion. Nowadays, I eat and as soon as I feel full, I stop.

Do you work with a nutritionist or a chef now?

I have a nutritionist with the team. I have a dietician, too. His name is Shawn Zell. He’s also the team chef and dietician. It makes it so much easier. It changed my health. I’m the lightest I’ve been since high school.

Did you also have to make changes when you were rehabbing and not able to be out on the court playing every day?

I had to change the way I was eating because I wanted to keep the inflammation out of my body so that I could recover faster. More greens and more fruits, instead of starches. I can have starch, but not for snacks. If I need a snack, I’ll have some natural sugars.

What do you do after the game? There’s adrenaline flowing, it’s late, you’re hungry, and you’ve just exerted a bunch of energy. What do you choose then?

Just eating the right foods. Especially here, [with the Bucks], we get the best, the finest treatment. Get you a plate, make sure you eat, and stay away from all the sugar.

Take us through the menu for a typical game day.

Breakfast is eggs and potatoes, usually. For lunch I eat a salad or some pasta. That’s usually our pre-game meal. Then for dinner they give us fish, steak, or chicken. Broccoli, rice, asparagus. Everywhere around the league, everyone usually gets chicken breast, pasta, and mixed greens.