Stunning start for Bucks rookie Jennings
November 19, 2009
MILWAUKEE (AP)—Rookie Brandon Jennings(notes) had an out-of-the-blue question for theinjured Michael Redd(notes) during a recent practice.
“‘Mike, what’s your career high?”’ said Redd, who scored 57 points againstUtah back in 2006. “He was like, ‘Dang, how’d you do that?’ and I said, ‘Man,you just got to be on.”’
Two days later, Jennings put up 55 points in a win against the Warriors,becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 50 in a game. Theprep star who went to Europe has come home to the US and he has certainly beenon for the young Bucks.
Jennings is averaging 24.8 points and has double figures in eight of ninegames through Wednesday, an extraordinary start for any player in the NBA. Youwould think Bucks general manager John Hammond would be all smiles, but he isworried about the 20-year-old budding star.
Hammond’s concern? It may be too much, too soon, too fast for the 10th pickin this year’s draft who is a bona fide rookie of the year candidate less than amonth into the season.
In this blue-collar town, the NBA plays third fiddle behind the NFL’s GreenBay Packers and the MLB’s Milwaukee Brewers, who are having their ownrenaissance with a playoff berth last year.
The Bucks play to sparse crowds in an arena meant for an NHL team that nevercame and opened before Jennings was born. If the NBA plans to stay in Milwaukee,the Bradley Center must be replaced and fans must come back to support afranchise that’s finished dead last in the Central Division every year since themost recent realignment. Its 74-year-old owner, Sen. Herb Kohl, pumps millionsinto the team to help keep them afloat.
To Hammond, that’s a load for any player to bear, much less a rookie.
“The pressure that all of a sudden falls on a young kid’s shoulders in hisfirst year in the league, talking about saving a franchise or needing a newarena, that’s not fair for him this early,” Hammond said.
For his part, Jennings is used to the pressure of expectations. He left LosAngeles three years ago to go to prep powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Mouth ofWilson, Va., and was one of the top high school recruits. But he struggled toqualify for college and instead signed a contract with Italy’s LottomaticaVirtus Roma.
Europe wasn’t much fun for the lefty used to making playground passes andrunning a flashy show. Twice-daily practices and long stretches on the benchhelped him mature. Even so, he began falling on draft night and it looked likehe had made a bad decision, costing him thousands of dollars each time anothername was called that wasn’t his.
“Everything that happened to the draft, not going to those teams that Ithought were going to pick me up, I think I’m in a great situation right now,”said Jennings, who adds with a grin that his new city reminds him of Europe.“The city of Milwaukee is laid back, and that’s what I need right now.”
The Bucks signed Jennings to a two-year contract worth almost $4.5 millionin July. He made an awkward splash in his new home when an expletive-lacedconversation ended up on YouTube, complete with derogatory comments about theKnicks, who passed on him in the draft, and the other two point guards on theteam. Jennings quickly apologized.
Now he’s staying as quiet as he can.
Jennings typically gets to the arena about four hours before game time andworks with assistant coach Kelvin Sampson on his jump shot nearly every day.Bucks coach Scott Skiles, a former point guard who holds the NBA’s single-gameassists record, said Jennings has a lot to learn.
To Sampson, the way Jennings is being coached says a lot more about therespect Skiles has for his new point guard.
“Scott lets him play,” Sampson said. “Whereas rookies go into situationswhere they get restricted because of the system. It shows you how good a coachScott is, he’s recognized what Brandon’s good at and adjusted to him.”
Jennings has also shown surprising maturity—or restraint—off the court.He says he’s worried about a potential lockout at the end of next season, somuch so that he bought a used car instead of the much more expensive SUVs thatdot most NBA arena parking lots. He even likes to brag about the money he saved.
“A lot of these guys get a Mercedes or a Range Rover,” Sampson said. “Alot of guys do stuff because of status, they think they’re supposed to drive aMercedes. He bought a Ford Edge.”
Jennings also shunned moving downtown to take part in Milwaukee’s small, butactive nightlife. Instead of buying a condo overlooking Lake Michigan, he’sliving in a suburb less than a mile from the team’s practice facility.
Jennings’ motivation to get better and be one of the NBA’s elite pointguards took him across the country, overseas and now to the Midwest. He’s happywith his winding road, but said it isn’t for everyone. He said Europe paid off.
“My main goal is coming out here, making the playoffs, getting my teammatesinvolved and trying to bring the winning back to Milwaukee,” Jennings said.“We have to win. I’m going to do my part and I’m going to try and make sure theteam does their part.”
And he’s got people watching out for him.
“The great thing is, I truly believe he’s not afraid, he’s not afraid forhimself. He thinks he’s good enough and can do this and that’s most important,”said Hammond, the GM. “We’ll worry about him. He just goes out and performs.”