Brandon Jennings facts for kids
Jennings with the New York Knicks in 2017
|
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 23, 1989 Compton, California, U.S. |
| High school |
|
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall |
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Pro career | 2008–2018 |
| Career history | |
| 2008–2009 | Lottomatica Roma |
| 2009–2013 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2013–2016 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2015 | →Grand Rapids Drive |
| 2016 | Orlando Magic |
| 2016–2017 | New York Knicks |
| 2017 | Washington Wizards |
| 2017 | Shanxi Brave Dragons |
| 2018 | Wisconsin Herd |
| 2018 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2018 | Zenit Saint Petersburg |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Brandon Byron Jennings (born September 23, 1989) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for 9 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Brandon is famous for being the first American high school player to skip college basketball. Instead, he played professionally in Europe before joining the NBA.
After graduating from Oak Hill Academy, Jennings played for Lottomatica Roma in Italy. After one year overseas, he entered the 2009 NBA draft. The Milwaukee Bucks picked him 10th overall. Jennings played four seasons in Milwaukee. Then, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons in 2013. He spent three seasons with the Pistons. In 2016, he was traded to the Orlando Magic. He later played for the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards. He had a final time with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2017–18 season. Jennings also played in China and Russia.
Contents
- Brandon Jennings's Early Life
- High School Basketball Career
- Choosing a Path: College or Pro?
- Professional Basketball Journey
- Playing in Italy: Lottomatica Roma (2008–2009)
- NBA Debut: Milwaukee Bucks (2009–2013)
- Detroit Pistons (2013–2016)
- Orlando Magic (2016)
- New York Knicks (2016–2017)
- Washington Wizards (2017)
- Playing Overseas Again: Shanxi Brave Dragons (2017)
- Back in the G League: Wisconsin Herd (2018)
- Return to Milwaukee (2018)
- Zenit Saint Petersburg (2018)
- Career Statistics
- Awards and Achievements
- Notable Records
- Personal Life and Charity
- Images for kids
- See Also
Brandon Jennings's Early Life
Brandon Jennings was born in Compton, California. His mother is Alice Knox. He has a half-brother named Terrence Phillips. Terrence used to play basketball for the Missouri Tigers. Brandon's father passed away when he was young.
High School Basketball Career
Jennings went to Dominguez High School in Compton for his first two years. Before his junior year, he moved to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. He helped his team in 2006–2007 achieve a 41–1 record. They were ranked number one by USA Today.
In his final high school year, Jennings scored an average of 35.5 points per game. He set a school record with 1,312 points in one season. This amazing performance earned him many top awards. These included the 2008 Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award. He was also named the 2008 Parade Magazine Player of the Year. Experts rated him as one of the best high school basketball players in the country.
Choosing a Path: College or Pro?
In 2006, Jennings first planned to join the USC college team. Later, in 2007, he decided to play for the Arizona Wildcats. He liked their strong academics and wanted to play with Jerryd Bayless.
In 2008, Jennings announced a big decision. He was thinking about becoming the first American to skip college. He wanted to play professionally in the Euroleague instead. The NBA rule says players must be at least 19 and one year out of high school. This meant Jennings could not join the NBA draft in 2008. He said playing overseas would help him gain experience and earn money. This would prepare him for the NBA when he was old enough.
Professional Basketball Journey
Playing in Italy: Lottomatica Roma (2008–2009)
On July 16, 2008, Jennings signed with Lottomatica Roma. This team is in Italy's top basketball league, Serie A. His contract was worth $1.65 million. Under Armour also gave him a $2 million deal to promote their products. Jennings was the first American high school player to go straight to a European team. This happened after the NBA set its age limit rule.
During the 2008–09 season in Italy, Jennings averaged 5.5 points per game. He played about 17 minutes each game. In the Euroleague, he averaged 7.6 points in nearly 20 minutes per game.
NBA Debut: Milwaukee Bucks (2009–2013)
The Milwaukee Bucks picked Jennings tenth overall in the 2009 NBA draft. He was the first player to skip college for Europe and then be drafted into the NBA. Jennings played his first NBA game on October 30, 2009. He almost got a triple-double against the Philadelphia 76ers. He scored 17 points, had 9 rebounds, and 9 assists.
On November 14, 2009, in only his seventh NBA game, Jennings scored 55 points! This was against the Golden State Warriors. His 55 points broke the Bucks' rookie scoring record. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the old record in 1970. Jennings became the youngest player ever to score 55 points.
As a rookie, Jennings started all 82 games. He helped the Bucks reach the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. They lost to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games. He finished third in the voting for Rookie of the Year.
On October 30, 2010, Jennings got his first triple-double. He had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. This was in a win against the Charlotte Bobcats. On December 15, 2010, he broke his left foot. He missed 19 games because of this injury. The Bucks missed the playoffs that year.
The NBA lockout shortened the 2011–12 season. Jennings played in all 66 games. He set new career highs with 19.1 points and 1.6 steals per game. The Bucks again missed the playoffs.
Before the 2012–13 season, Jennings wanted a long-term contract. He said he would not return to Milwaukee without one. During the Bucks' first home game, Jennings made a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. This won the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bucks returned to the playoffs. They were swept 4–0 by the Miami Heat. After losing Game 2, Jennings famously said the Bucks would win the series in six games. This phrase, "Bucks in 6," became very popular. It was used when the Bucks won the NBA Finals in six games in 2021.
Detroit Pistons (2013–2016)
On July 31, 2013, Jennings joined the Detroit Pistons. He signed a three-year contract. On December 5, 2013, he returned to Milwaukee. He scored 17 points and had 11 assists in a win over the Bucks. On January 11, 2014, Jennings had 16 assists in the first half against the Phoenix Suns. This tied a team record for most assists in a half.
On January 16, 2015, Jennings scored a season-high 37 points. Five days later, he had 24 points and a career-high 21 assists. This was against the Orlando Magic. He was the first player since 2009 to have a game with 20 points and 20 assists.
On January 25, 2015, Jennings suffered a serious leg injury (ruptured left Achilles tendon). He needed surgery and missed the rest of the season. He averaged 15.4 points and 6.6 assists in 41 games that season.
After his injury, Jennings played for the Grand Rapids Drive. This was the Pistons' minor league team, for rehab. He returned to the Pistons on December 29, 2015.
Orlando Magic (2016)
On February 16, 2016, Jennings was traded to the Orlando Magic. He played his first game with the Magic the next day. He scored 18 points in a win over the Dallas Mavericks.
New York Knicks (2016–2017)
On July 8, 2016, Jennings signed with the New York Knicks. He played his first game for them on October 25, 2016. On December 31, he scored a season-high 32 points against the Houston Rockets. On February 27, 2017, the Knicks released him. He had asked to be traded because he wasn't getting much playing time.
Washington Wizards (2017)
On March 1, 2017, Jennings signed with the Washington Wizards. That year, the Wizards won their division for the first time in 38 years. They lost to Boston in the playoffs.
Playing Overseas Again: Shanxi Brave Dragons (2017)
On July 28, 2017, Jennings signed a one-year deal to play for the Shanxi Brave Dragons in China. On December 9, 2017, the team released him. In 13 games, he averaged 27.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.8 assists.
Back in the G League: Wisconsin Herd (2018)
On February 13, 2018, Jennings joined the Wisconsin Herd. This team is part of the NBA G League, which is like a minor league for the NBA.
Return to Milwaukee (2018)
On March 11, 2018, Jennings signed a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. This was his second time playing for the team. The next day, he almost had a triple-double. He scored 16 points and had 12 assists in a win. He signed a multi-year contract on April 1. However, on August 1, 2018, the Bucks released him.
Zenit Saint Petersburg (2018)
On August 20, 2018, Jennings signed a one-year deal with Zenit Saint Petersburg, a team in Russia. His contract ended on November 20, 2018, after only 10 games.
Career Statistics
| 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 |
NBA Regular Season Stats
| 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 | |
NBA Playoff Stats
| 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 | |
EuroLeague Stats
| 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 | |
Awards and Achievements
Brandon Jennings earned many awards throughout his career:
- 2005 Press Telegram Freshmen Player of the Year
- Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2006 Les Schwab Invitational Tournament
- Co-MVP of the 2007 Elite 24 Hoops Classic
- 2007 Third-team Parade All-American
- 2007 Las Vegas Easter Classic Most Valuable Player
- 2008 Naismith Male Player of the Year
- 2007–08 Gatorade Player of the Year (Virginia)
- 2008 Parade Magazine Player of the Year
- 2008 EA SPORTS National Player of the Year
- 2008 McDonald's All-American
- 2008 First-team Parade All-American
- 2007–08 MaxPreps National Player of the Year
- 2008 Jordan Brand Classic Most Valuable Player for the East team
- Ranked #1 senior by ESPN, Van Coleman Hoopmaster, Clark Franics Hoopscoop, and Dave Telep Scout.com in 2008
- Eastern Conference NBA Rookie of the Month (October/November 2009, December 2009, January 2010)
- 2009–10 NBA 1st Team All-Rookie (chosen by everyone)
Notable Records
NBA Records
- Youngest player in NBA history to score 50 or more points in a game.
- He was 20 years and 52 days old.
- He scored 55 points for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Golden State Warriors on November 14, 2009.
- Ranks 2nd in NBA history for field goals made in a quarter.
- He made 12 field goals in the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors on November 14, 2009.
- The NBA record is 13, held by David Thompson and Klay Thompson.
Milwaukee Bucks Team Records
Rookie Records
- Most points in a game by a rookie: 55, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009.
- Most field goals made in a game by a rookie: 21, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009.
Franchise Records
- Most points in a half: 45, second half, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009.
- Most points in a quarter: 29, third quarter, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009.
- Most field goals made in a half: 17, second half, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009.
- Most field goals made in a quarter: 12, third quarter, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009.
Personal Life and Charity
After the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in Italy, Jennings donated $50,000 to help the victims. He also took part in Steve Nash's charity soccer match in New York City in 2010. This event, called "Showdown in Chinatown," raised money for good causes.
Images for kids
-
Jennings with the Knicks
-
Jennings in 2009
-
Jennings with the Pistons in 2014.
See Also
In Spanish: Brandon Jennings para niños
