The Bucks play the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. But that’s really just a sideshow to the main event: Jabari Parker’s return to the court from his torn ACL and knee surgery.

That’s not a joke or really much of an exaggeration. As cynical as it sounds to say one player matters more than the team, if the Bucks want to #OwnTheFuture, ensuring and preserving the health of one of their most valuable players is far more important than winning a game in early November.

The team knows that, which is why Parker didn’t play in the preseason and was held out of the Bucks’ first four games. They’ve been cautious and undoubtedly have a precise plan for him. Parker was medically cleared to play on Monday and is expected to make his season debut against the 76ers. He’ll be closely monitored, and head coach Jason Kidd indicated Parker would likely play only about 15 to 20 minutes.

But what will he look like when he finally takes the court for the first time since last December, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on a noncontact play against the Phoenix Suns and was carried off the floor by teammates? The No. 2 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft was averaging 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds at the time and putting together an early case for rookie of the year.

That player was springy and energetic. Offensively intuitive and confident but defensively uncertain and slow at times, he had a youthful face but finished dunks with power that was decidedly not boyish.

Will he be aggressive and attack the basket, or restrained and settle for jump shots? Will he be overzealous and eager to make up for lost time, or has a year of sitting on the bench – and often in between his coaches – given him a patience and positional understanding of where to be and how to fit in the Bucks’ system (particularly on defense)? Will we see a trademark Parker play like a deft no-look pass or a cheeky move in the post? Most importantly, will we see that megawatt Jabari smile?

Here are five things to watch when Wisconsin’s other prized No. 12 athlete walks out on the Bradley Center floor:

1. Movement

The obvious one. Parker tore his ACL last December and underwent surgery in January, which Scott Coonen of Freedom Physical Therapy said means he should have full strength and full range of motion. "He should be back to 100 percent, especially 11 months out," Coonen said. Reportedly, he’s in the best shape of his life, so don’t expect to see him limping or favoring his right side. But there could be subtle body movements that still don’t entirely belong to him. "Usually the last thing to come along is the rotational component," Coonen said. With Parker’s tear being a noncontact injury, while he should be able to bend and straighten it and move side-to-side just fine, he may still not be able to turn and swivel the knee at its optimal capability.

2. Confidence

This is the main one. "A year out, almost, the biggest thing is the confidence issue," Coonen said. People remember how they got hurt the last time, and even top athletes "are nervous about re-injury," he added. Parker played the first two months of his rookie season, especially on offense, with a kind of composed recklessness. Even on the play when he was injured, he was driving toward the basket in transition with a defender right in front of him; an effective Parker plays with that kind of self-assurance and attack mentality.

3. Outside shot

Last year, Parker, who came into the league with a polished offensive game and a good midrange jumper, shot a respectable 43.2 percent from 10 to 16 feet. During his offseason rehab, one of the areas of his game he said he wanted to improve was his 3-point shooting. And, since he was largely confined to individual drills for much of his on-court work, he no doubt took lots of shots. A 25 percent 3-point shooter – he only took 16 in his 25 games – it will be interesting to see how much more often Parker looks to take 3s. And, of course, if he’s making them now at a higher rate.

4. Energy

Last season, after his injury, Parker could often be seen clapping enthusiastically on the Bucks bench and jumping up to high-five teammates during stoppages. He has a positive, infectious sort of energy, which made him a popular player on the team and a beloved figure in the community off it. But if a couple plays go badly, his legs aren’t cooperating or he struggles to knock off the rust early on, will his body language change? Parker doesn’t seem like the type to mope, but if fans see slumped shoulders or a shaking head, that would be a bad sign. A couple chest bumps with Giannis would be a good sign.

5. Defense

This is where Parker struggled most last year before the injury. As many rookies do, he looked out of sorts often, confused at times and sluggish in his rotations, which are magnified in the warp-speed NBA and the Bucks’ hyper-aggressive scheme. He didn’t have a sterling defensive reputation coming out of college, and in his brief time in the league, opponents shot 51.6 percent when he guarded them – 7.1 percent above the league average, according to NBA.com. From within 10 feet of the rim, opposing players shot a cringe-worthy 68.2 percent against him. But Parker is considered a cerebral player, and he’s spent most of the last year presumably absorbing the defensive system. Look for higher hands and a lower stance, and hope for better positioning and less ball-watching.