Brandon Jennings, Please Relax

I've been supportive of Brandon Jennings for a while now. I liked his box at the McDonald's All-American game a couple years ago. I admired his decision to buck the trend and head to Italy to play for a year before entering the NBA Draft (instead of wasting a year in college like so many of his classmates). I even suggested that he'd come back more mature due to living on his own, more or less, in Europe and getting out of his comfort zone.

I was wrong.

I'm not criticizing the kid, yet, because he's only 19 and he hasn't even played a minute in the NBA. However, his recent behavior has shown bouts of immaturity coupled with abnormal eagerness.

First, in pre-Draft interviews in Sacramento, Jennings called fellow draftee Ricky Rubio "all hype" and told everyone how much better he was than Rubio. Considering many people tabbed Ricky Rubio as a high selection before the draft and complimented on his game, there's really no reason to criticize him. Tell us how good you are, fine; but don't go after another player unprovoked.

Then, he's unable to secure an early-pick guarantee, so decides to avoid going to Madison Square Garden, where the NBA Draft was being held, and sitting in the green room with his fellow draft mates. Except, he changed his mind. After Earl Clark was announced as the 14th overall pick (to the Phoenix Suns), Commissioner David Stern then announces that Brandon Jennings (who was nowhere to be found when he was drafted 10th by the Milwaukee Bucks) had arrived and introduced him. Jennings then comes out from behind the stage and waves to everyone before having his picture taken with Stern. This was quite entertaining but also very confusing.

The most recent episode involves him talking to rapper Joe Budden (no, really), on Budden's online web broadcast, about a variety of topics, including Ramon Sessions (Milwaukee's current point guard), the New York Knicks (who passed on him with the 8th pick), and Chris Duhon (the Knicks' starting point guard). Why? There's no reason, even if you're just doing it for show, to hate on these people. Just show us how good you are in October and we'll all hate on everyone for passing you over after you prove that it's deserved.

Part of me is laughing at the situation because Jennings has no idea what he's getting into in Milwaukee. Scott Skiles, their head coach, is a taskmaster who demands that things be done his way. Oh, and he's a former point guard, which means that he's especially tough on his floor generals. Can Jennings get along with a disciplinarian coach who used to play the very same position he does? He better, or else he'll become very cozy with the bench. Ramon Sessions will be the starter, and is more than capable of putting up very good statistics. If Jennings wants to see the floor at all, he needs to focus on his game and less on others.

At the end of the day, I'm chalking this up to overexuberance and youthful immaturity. As the saying goes, "it's a shame that youth is wasted on the young." Jennings has a chip on his shoulder since no one got to see him play during his year out of the States. He feels as if he has to make a name for himself to garner the headlines of Rubio, Jonny Flynn, Stephen Curry, and the other household names in this year's Draft. As he grows up, and hopefully listens to Skiles, he'll realize that what he does on the court echoes infinitely more loudly than anything that comes out of his mouth.

Brandon, consider this season your opportunity to speak to us...properly, this time.

~~ Lank