Young Money
Brandon Jennings has made 8 teams look real bad for not drafting the “risky” lefty straight out of Italy, but has sparked hope in the depleted city of Milwaukee after just 7 games. Self-proclaimed “Young Money,” which is tattooed on Brandon’s back, has been nothing BUT money since his debut about two weeks ago. Drafted 10th overall to the Milwaukee Bucks, Jennings stock dropped from the number 1 ranked prospective college freshman, to a very risky 10th pick. The flat-topped Compton bred rookie was notorious even before his first NBA practice, showing up late on draft day, and his controversial conversation with grade-B rapper Joe Budden, sparking even more skepticism from the critics.
Jennings so far has looked like a man on a mission. After “franchise” player Michael Redd went down with an injury, Jennings has carried the whole city of Milwaukee on his back. After 7 games into the season, the Bucks boast a very impressive record of 5-2. Sure, the competition has been weak, but this IS the Bucks we are talking about, who had a record of 33-47 last season. This time last year, they had a record of 3-4, with a healthy Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson. Jennings’s debut into the NBA was a special one, one rebound and one assist shy of hitting the record books joining a little someone known as Oscar Robinson, as the only two players to record triple doubles in their debut games. Six games later, Jennings rewrites the record books himself, fewest games into an NBA season with a 50 point game. It seemed the previous 50 year old record help by Wilt Chamberlain would be untouched, till the lefty from Compton “Young Money” swished seven 3 pointers to go along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists while shooting a blistering 62 percent from the field. The other four rookies to score at least 55 in one game went on to win Rookie of the Year honors, as well as being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. On top of that, Jennings is only the second player in NBA history to score at least 50 before his 21st birthday, joining The King himself Lebron James.
That’s all good company to be in, ESPECIALLY when your talking basketball. Brandon Jennings’s has slowly transformed from controversial teenager, to taking his place among NBA royalty. Leading all rookies in points (25.6), assists (5.1), three-point field goal percentage (.567), as well as minutes (33.9), it’s hard to believe any other rookie really has a chance to win Rookie of the Year. It seemed like a close race with Jennings’s and Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings, but all everyone seems to be saying nowadays is “Tyreke who?”
It’s also nice to see how mature and NBA ready Brandon really was, despite well-deserved criticism. Following his historic night, Jennings’s said, “I guess I was in that zone, you know? But that doesn’t happen without (Andrew) Bogut down low, scoring in the post and opening things up for me. I’m not doing this alone here.” The kid is a natural born leader, quickly praising his teammates for his own success. The selfless Jennings’s is single handedly resurrected Milwaukie as a basketball city. Rather than declaring himself Rookie of the Year, as Stephen Curry of the Warriors did, or be given Rookie of the Year without playing one NBA game, as Blake Griffen was, Jennings simply brushed it off. “Really, I’m not thinking about that at all. What I want is to keep this team winning, and get the Bucks to the playoffs. That’s what everyone wants here.” Born for superstardom, I have a feeling this won’t be the last time Young Money Brandon Jennings’s name will appear in the record books.
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