Brandon Jennings: Rondo is the Best QB Point Guard in the NBA. Top 5 PG in the NBA! #FutureNBACoach4Sure
Position: G
Born: 09/23/89
Height: 6-1 / 1.85
Weight:168 lbs. / 76.6 kg.
Salary: $380,830
Born: 09/23/89
Height: 6-1 / 1.85
Weight:168 lbs. / 76.6 kg.
Salary: $380,830
In a league that has moved toward an emphasis on pace-and-space and 3-point shooting, Jennings’s one-on-one scoring ability can feel almost anachronistic. And yet he’s shown during this stint with the Bucks that he’s still capable of changing the complexion of a game. “He’s been really good in terms of filling that backup role for us,” Bucks interim coach Joe Prunty told reporters after the team signed Jennings to a multiyear deal following two 10-day contracts. “He’s a guy that can help us.”
His overall numbers since returning to the Bucks are nothing earth-shattering: 5.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists. But he’s given the team a reliable veteran presence with the injuries to Brogdon and Dellavedova. He understands that his role on the team has changed since he was last in Milwaukee and he’s okay with that. “Just running the second unit, trying to make easy plays for guys and things like that,” Jennings told Basketball Insiders. “It’s definitely a bit of a different role from when I was here earlier in my career. But I’m taking it all in and I’m enjoying it.”
VICE Sports: Looking back a few years, how badly did the Achilles injury impact your game and change who you were from before it happened up until today? [Jennings tore his Achilles on January 24, 2015.] Brandon Jennings: For me it was really rough. People don’t know how bad an Achilles injury is. It’s actually a career-ending injury. Some people never come back from it. But it took me a good two years. The first year was just the rehabbing and the process of being patient. And the second one was just finding that confidence again, moving around and feeling like I could do what I did before. So I think that was just the toughest part for me. I also rushed back, which I feel like I shouldn’t have, and you know it’s just a tough process. My first seven years in the league I started, and then I had to come back from an injury and then I don’t ever get a chance to start again. So I think that was just a tough part, coming off the bench the first two years.
Why did you feel the need to rush back? Brandon Jennings: Well, it was my contract year. I was on my contract year so I wanted to show that I could still get back to who I was but, you know, coming back early hurt me more than anything, because I still wasn’t ready and I was forcing myself to be out there playing.
Matt Velazquez: As Bucks announced earlier, Brandon Jennings has signed a multi-year deal with the team. His contract is guaranteed the rest of the season and is non-guaranteed for next season. Contract situation is similar to Gary Payton II last season.
“I’m excited about going to the postseason with a Bucks jersey on. With this young great talent we will be very scary in the postseason,” said Brandon Jennings to ESPN’s The Undefeated on being signed by the Bucks for the remainder of the season.
