Brandon Byron Jennings (born September 23, 1989) is an American former professionalbasketball player who played nine seasons in theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He is known for being the first American high school prospect to bypasscollege basketball to play professionally in Europe.[1]
After he graduated fromOak Hill Academy, Jennings played for professional basketball clubLottomatica Roma in Rome, Italy. After a year overseas, he declared for the2009 NBA draft and was selected 10th overall by theMilwaukee Bucks. Jennings played four seasons in Milwaukee before being traded to theDetroit Pistons in 2013. He spent his next three seasons in Detroit before he was traded to theOrlando Magic in 2016. He went on to split the 2016–17 season between theNew York Knicks andWashington Wizards before a final stint in Milwaukee in the 2017–18 season. Jennings also played in theChinese Basketball Association and theVTB United League.
Jennings was born to Alice Knox inCompton, California. He has a half brother named Terrence Phillips, a former guard for theMissouri Tigers. His father died when he was young.[2]
Jennings attendedDominguez High School inCompton for his freshman and sophomore years. Before his junior year, Jennings transferred toOak Hill Academy inMouth of Wilson, Virginia. He led his 2006–2007 team to a 41–1 record and the top ranking in theUSA Today Super 25 list of high school teams.[3] In his last year of high school, Jennings averaged 35.5 points per game and set the school record for points in a season (1,312).[4] This performance earned him some of high school basketball's most prestigious awards: the 2008Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award, 2007–08Gatorade Player of the Year (Virginia), 2008 Parade Magazine Player of the Year, and 2008EA Sports Player of the Year. He was rated as the nation's #1 high school basketball prospect in the class of 2008 byScout.com,[5] the #1 prospect in theESPNU 150,[6] and the #4 prospect byRivals.com.[7]
In August 2006, Jennings was initially set to joinUSC. On April 24, 2007, he instead committed to theArizona Wildcats, citing Arizona's quality academic faculty and his desire to play withJerryd Bayless.[8] In November 2007,SLAM Magazine's third edition of PUNKS featured Jennings on the cover along with three other top-rated high school guards (Jrue Holiday,Tyreke Evans andLance Stephenson).[9][10]
In June 2008, Jennings attended the premiere of Beastie Boys'Adam Yauch's basketball movieGunnin' For That #1 Spot at theMagic Johnson Theatre inHarlem. Also attending wereKevin Love, Stephenson,Brook Lopez,Robin Lopez, andD. J. Augustin. The film follows eight top high school players—including Jennings—from their hometowns to New York City for the 2006 Elite 24 atRucker Park.
In June 2008, Jennings announced that he was considering becoming the first American to skip college to play professionally in theEuroleague. The NBA requires players to be at least 19 years old and one year removed from high school before entering the league, meaning that Jennings could not enter the 2008 NBA draft. Jennings declared that his goal was to play in the NBA and that playing overseas instead of at an American college could be his best route to gain experience and make money until he was eligible to join the NBA.[11]
On July 16, 2008, Jennings signed withLottomatica Roma of the ItalianSerie A.[12] The contract he signed with Roma was for $1.65 millionnet income guaranteed.[13] After earning the contract with Lottomatica,Under Armour gave Jennings a $2 million contract[14] to showcase their products in theEuroleague. Jennings was the first American player to go straight from high school to play professionally for a European team rather than play for acollege basketball team since the NBA's age restriction rule was implemented.[1]
In the Serie A 2008–09 season, Jennings averaged 5.5 points in 17.0 minutes per game over 27 games. He shot 35.1% from the field and 20.7% from 3-point range.[15] In 16Euroleague games, Jennings averaged 7.6 points in 19.6 minutes per game, shooting 38.7% from the field and 26.8% from 3-point range.[16]
Jennings was selected tenth overall by theMilwaukee Bucks in the2009 NBA draft, becoming the first player who skipped college to play professional basketball in Europe to be drafted by an NBA team.[17]
Jennings made his NBA regular season debut on October 30, 2009, against thePhiladelphia 76ers. He nearly recorded a triple double, scoring 17 points and recording 9 rebounds and 9 assists in 34 minutes.
On November 14, 2009, in just his seventh game in the NBA, after being held scoreless in the first quarter, Jennings scored 55 points in a win over theGolden State Warriors.[18] Jennings's 55 points broke the team record for most points in a game by a rookie, previously set byKareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1970, and was more than any rookie scored sinceEarl Monroe scored 56 in 1968. He became the youngest player to ever score 55, collecting the second-highest total for a player under 21, behind onlyLeBron James's 56 points in March 2005, and the second-most points scored by a Milwaukee Buck (behindMichael Redd's 57 in 2006).[19] His 55-point tally was also the highest for any NBA player in a 2009–10 regular season contest.
DuringAll-Star Weekend, he competed in theSkills Challenge.[20] Jennings started all 82 games as a rookie and led the Bucks to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons, where they lost to theAtlanta Hawks in seven games. He finished third inRookie of the Year voting.[21]
On October 30, 2010, Jennings recorded his first ever triple double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win against theCharlotte Bobcats. On December 15, 2010, Jennings broke his left foot against theSan Antonio Spurs when he came down awkwardly on his ankle.[22] Despite the injury, he finished the game and played 30 minutes the following game against theUtah Jazz. The team later confirmed that Jennings would miss the next four to six weeks as he recovered from surgery to repair a fracture in his left foot.[23] Jennings missed a total of 19 games with the injury. He scored a season-high 37 points against theNew York Knicks atMadison Square Garden on March 25, 2011.[24] With Milwaukee struggling in Jennings's absence and his slow return to form after the injury, theBucks missed the playoffs.
With the NBA beginning the 2011–12 season in alockout, Jennings played in theDrew League to stay in shape and prepare for the season. With the schedule shortened after the lockout ended, Jennings played and started in all of the 66 games. He recorded career highs with 19.1 points and 1.6 steals in 35.3 minutes per game.
Similar to the previous season, his season high in points came in Madison Square Garden against the Knicks; this time, Jennings scored 36 points in a 100–86 win.[25] TheBucks again missed the NBA playoffs, finishing in ninth place in the East.
With Jennings set to hit restricted free agency at the end of the 2012–13 season, he sought a long-term contract, saying he would not return to Milwaukee if they did not work out an agreement.[26]
During the Bucks' home opener against theCleveland Cavaliers, Jennings made a game-winning three at the buzzer to win the game for the Bucks.[27] Jennings teamed up withMonta Ellis, who was acquired at the 2012 trade deadline, to form one of the NBA's most potent backcourts that year.[28][29] With improved play under new coachJim Boylan,[30]Milwaukee returned to the playoffs for the first time since Jennings was a rookie, qualifying as the eighth seed. They were swept 4–0 by the reigning champions, theMiami Heat, who would go on to win theNBA Finals again. After the team lost Game 2, Jennings proclaimed the Bucks would win the series in six.[31] The phrase "Bucks in 6" subsequently became a famous phrase among the fanbase, commonly used during the2021 NBA Playoffs when theBucks won theNBA Finals, coincidentally in six games after trailing 2–0. Jennings was subsequently invited to participate in the team's championship parade and helped design their championship rings.[32]
On July 31, 2013, Jennings wassigned-and-traded to theDetroit Pistons in exchange forBrandon Knight,Khris Middleton andViacheslav Kravtsov.[33] He agreed to a three-year contract, reportedly worth $25 million.[34]
On December 5, 2013, Jennings returned to Milwaukee in a 105–98 win over the Bucks, finishing with 17 points and 11 assists.[35] On January 11, 2014, in a game against thePhoenix Suns, Jennings recorded 16 assists in the first half, tyingIsiah Thomas' franchise record for the most assists in a half.[36]
On January 16, 2015, Jennings scored a season-high 37 points on 10-of-23 shooting in the 98–96 win over the Indiana Pacers.[37] Five days later, he recorded 24 points and a career-high 21 assists in the 128–118 win over the Orlando Magic, becoming the first player to record a 20-point, 20-assist game in the NBA sinceSteve Nash in2009.[38]
On January 25, 2015, Jennings was ruled out for the rest of the season due to a ruptured left Achilles tendon that required surgery.[39] On the season, he averaged 15.4 points, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 41 games.[40]
On December 17, 2015, Jennings voluntarily reported to theGrand Rapids Drive, the Pistons'D-League affiliate, on a rehab assignment.[41][42] In his debut with the Drive on December 19, Jennings recorded adouble-double with 11 points and 12 assists in 27 minutes against theIowa Energy.[43] He was recalled by the Pistons the next day.[44] On December 29, Jennings made his first appearance of the season for the Pistons, scoring seven points and adding four assists in 16 minutes off the bench against the New York Knicks.[45] He had a season-best game in his fourth game back from injury, recording 17 points and 6 assists off the bench on January 4 in a 115–89 win over the Orlando Magic.[46]
On February 16, 2016, Jennings was traded to theOrlando Magic, along withErsan İlyasova, in exchange forTobias Harris.[47] The next day, he made his debut with the Magic in a 110–104 win over theDallas Mavericks, recording 18 points, three rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes.[48]
On July 8, 2016, Jennings signed with theNew York Knicks.[49] He debuted in the Knicks's season opener on October 25, 2016, against theCleveland Cavaliers. In 21 minutes off the bench, he recorded seven points, three rebounds and five assists in a 117–88 loss.[50] On December 11, he scored 15 of his season high-tying 19 points in the fourth quarter of the Knicks' 118–112 win over theLos Angeles Lakers.[51] On December 31, he set a new season high with 32 points in a 129–122 loss to theHouston Rockets.[52]
On February 27, 2017, he was waived by the Knicks.[53] He had previously requested a trade due to lack of playing time and team success in New York.[54]
On March 1, 2017, Jennings signed with theWashington Wizards.[55] That year the Wizards won the division for the first time in 38 years, losing to Boston in seven games in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
On July 28, 2017, Jennings accepted a one-year, $1.5 million deal to play for theShanxi Brave Dragons of theChinese Basketball Association.[56] On December 9, 2017, he was released by Shanxi.[57] In 13 games, he averaged 27.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game.
On February 13, 2018, Jennings was acquired by theWisconsin Herd of theNBA G League.[58]
On March 11, 2018, Jennings signed a 10-day contract with theMilwaukee Bucks, returning to the franchise for a second stint.[59] The following day, in his first game back with the Bucks, Jennings finished two rebounds shy of a triple-double with 16 points and 12 assists in a 121–103 win over theMemphis Grizzlies.[60] He signed a second 10-day contract on March 21,[61] and a multi-year contract on April 1.[62] On August 1, 2018, he was waived by the Bucks.[63]
On August 20, 2018, Jennings signed a one-year deal with the Russian teamZenit Saint Petersburg of theVTB United League.[64][65] His contract with Zenit was terminated on November 20, 2018, after only 10 games and days after an Instagram post he made stating "Lesson in life: I will never play for a team and the dad is coaching his SON! Never again!"[66][67] The father-son duo at the club at the time of his Instagram post wereVasily Karasev (then head coach of Zenit Saint Petersburg) and former NBA playerSergey Karasev.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance index rating |
| Bold | Career high | * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | Milwaukee | 82* | 82* | 32.6 | .371 | .374 | .817 | 3.4 | 5.7 | 1.3 | .2 | 15.5 |
| 2010–11 | Milwaukee | 63 | 61 | 34.4 | .390 | .323 | .809 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 1.5 | .3 | 16.2 |
| 2011–12 | Milwaukee | 66* | 66* | 35.3 | .418 | .332 | .808 | 3.4 | 5.5 | 1.6 | .3 | 19.1 |
| 2012–13 | Milwaukee | 80 | 80 | 36.2 | .399 | .375 | .819 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 1.6 | .1 | 17.5 |
| 2013–14 | Detroit | 80 | 79 | 34.1 | .373 | .337 | .751 | 3.1 | 7.6 | 1.3 | .1 | 15.5 |
| 2014–15 | Detroit | 41 | 41 | 28.6 | .401 | .360 | .839 | 2.5 | 6.6 | 1.1 | .1 | 15.4 |
| 2015–16 | Detroit | 23 | 1 | 18.1 | .371 | .312 | .711 | 2.0 | 3.0 | .5 | .1 | 6.8 |
| 2015–16 | Orlando | 25 | 6 | 18.1 | .366 | .346 | .750 | 2.0 | 4.0 | .7 | .2 | 7.0 |
| 2016–17 | New York | 58 | 11 | 24.6 | .380 | .340 | .756 | 2.6 | 4.9 | .9 | .1 | 8.6 |
| 2016–17 | Washington | 23 | 2 | 16.3 | .274 | .212 | .706 | 1.9 | 4.7 | .7 | .0 | 3.5 |
| 2017–18 | Milwaukee | 14 | 0 | 14.6 | .375 | .273 | 1.000 | 2.2 | 3.1 | .4 | .3 | 5.2 |
| Career | 555 | 429 | 30.3 | .387 | .345 | .796 | 3.0 | 5.7 | 1.2 | .2 | 14.1 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Milwaukee | 7 | 7 | 35.6 | .408 | .293 | .808 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 1.1 | .6 | 18.7 |
| 2013 | Milwaukee | 4 | 4 | 33.3 | .298 | .214 | .722 | 2.3 | 4.0 | 2.3 | .3 | 13.3 |
| 2017 | Washington | 13 | 0 | 13.7 | .389 | .154 | .875 | 1.5 | 1.8 | .2 | .0 | 2.8 |
| 2018 | Milwaukee | 1 | 0 | 5.0 | .000 | .000 | 1.000 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Career | 25 | 11 | 22.6 | .372 | .238 | .796 | 2.0 | 2.6 | .8 | .2 | 8.9 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | Lottomatica Roma | 16 | 7 | 19.6 | .387 | .268 | .774 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.2 | .1 | 7.6 | 5.1 |
| Career | 16 | 7 | 19.6 | .387 | .268 | .774 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.2 | .1 | 7.6 | 5.1 | |
NBA records
Ranks 2nd in NBA history in:
Milwaukee Bucks franchise records
Rookie
Franchise
After the2009 L'Aquila earthquake, Jennings donated $50,000 to support victims.[68]
Jennings participated inSteve Nash'sShowdown in Chinatown charity soccer match in New York City on June 24, 2010.[69]
Jennings, specifically his tense relationship with Milwaukee coachScott Skiles, was the subject of the song "Chartjunk" by the rock bandStephen Malkmus and the Jicks, in 2014.[70]
