Quick Facts
Biography
Brandon Byron Jennings (born September 23, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After graduating from Oak Hill Academy, he decided to play professional basketball with Italian club Lottomatica Roma instead of playing collegiately for the University of Arizona, leading to controversy and debate on the NBA's "prep-to-pro" policy adopted in 2006. After a year in Italy, Jennings declared for the 2009 NBA draft and was selected 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. He played his first four seasons in Milwaukee before being traded to the Detroit Pistons in 2013. Jennings spent his next three seasons in Detroit before he was traded to the Orlando Magic in 2016.
Early life
Jennings was born in Compton, California to Alice Knox. He has a half brother named Terrence Phillips. His father committed suicide when he was young.
High school career
Jennings attended Dominguez High School in Compton, California for his freshman and sophomore year. Before his junior year, Jennings transferred to powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. 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). This performance earned him some of high school basketball's most prestigious awards: the 2008 Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award, 2007–08 Gatorade Player of the Year (Virginia), 2008 Parade Magazine Player of the Year and 2008 EA Sports Player of the Year. He led his 2006–2007 team to a 41–1 record and the top ranking in the USA Today Super 25 list of high school teams. He was rated as the nation's #1 high school basketball prospect in the class of 2008 by Scout.com, the #1 prospect in the ESPNU 150, and the #4 prospect by Rivals.com.
College plans
In August 2006, he chose to attend USC. On April 24, 2007, he decided instead to join the Arizona Wildcats, citing Arizona's quality academic faculty and his desire to play with Jerryd Bayless. (Bayless left after one season to enter the 2008 NBA draft.) 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 and Lance Stephenson).
In June 2008, Jennings attended the premiere of Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch's basketball movie Gunnin' For That #1 Spot at the Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem. Also attending were Kevin Love, Lance Stephenson, Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez, DJ Augustin, and Adam Yauch. The film follows eight top high school players—including Jennings—from their hometowns to New York City, for the 2006 Elite 24 at Rucker Park.
In June 2008, Jennings announced that he was considering becoming the first American to skip college to play professionally in the Euroleague. The National Basketball Association 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.
Professional career
Italy (2008–2009)
On July 16, 2008, Jennings signed with Lottomatica Roma of the Italian Serie A. The contract he signed with Roma was for $1.65 million net income guaranteed. After earning the contract with Lottomatica, Under Armour gave Jennings a $2 million contract to showcase their products in the Euroleague. Jennings was the first player to play for a European team rather than play for a college basketball team since the NBA's age restriction rule was implemented.
In the Italian Serie A 2008–09 season, Jennings averaged in 27 games, 5.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals in 17.0 minutes per game. He shot 35.1 percent from the field and 20.7 percent from 3 point range in Serie A play. In 16 Euroleague games, Jennings averaged 7.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 19.6 minutes per game. In the Euroleague he shot 38.7 percent from the field and 26.8 percent from 3 point range.
2009 NBA draft
Jennings was selected tenth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2009 NBA draft. He became the first player who skipped college to play professional basketball in Europe to be drafted by an NBA team. Jennings also made a notable appearance at the draft. He had initially decided not to attend the draft and preferred to be at a family function during the draft. After he was drafted by the Bucks, he left the family function and headed to Madison Square Garden. He later came out on stage after the 14th pick was announced to have his picture taken with NBA commissioner David Stern, just like all drafted players who attend the draft.
Milwaukee Bucks (2009–2013)
2009–10 season: Rookie season
During Jennings's NBA regular season debut on October 30, 2009, against the Philadelphia 76ers, Jennings recorded 17 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and hit 2 three-point shots, and played 34 minutes. In his second game, on October 31, 2009, against the Detroit Pistons, also the debut in Bradley Center, Jennings scored 16 points during the third quarter and a team-high 24 points for the game to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to their first victory of the 2009–10 regular season.
On November 14, 2009, after a scoreless first quarter, Jennings scored 29 points in the 3rd quarter against Golden State en route to a total of 55 points in the game to break the team record for most points by a rookie previously set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1970. Jennings's performance was the most points scored by a rookie since Earl "The Pearl" 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 only LeBron James's 56 points in March 2005, and the second-most points scored by a Milwaukee Buck (behind Michael Redd's 57 in 2006). On February 2, 2010, he was selected to compete in the Skills Challenge.
2010–11 season
On October 30, 2010, Jennings recorded his first ever triple double, with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Charlotte Bobcats. On December 15, 2010, Jennings broke his left foot against the San Antonio Spurs when he came down awkwardly on his ankle. Despite the injury, he played 30 minutes the following game against the 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. He had been averaging 18.7 points per game before the injury. Jennings missed a total of 19 games with the injury before returning on January 29, 2011 in a 91–81 home victory over the New Jersey Nets. He scored a season-high 37 points against the New York Knicks on March 25, 2011. The Bucks, however, missed the playoffs.
2011–12 season
During the 2011–12 season, Jennings played and started in all of the 66 games of the lockout-shortened NBA season. He recorded career highs in minutes per game (35.3), steals per game (1.6), field goal percentage (.418) and points per game (19.1). Jennings tied his personal record for blocks per game (.3) which he recorded in the last season. The Bucks again missed the NBA playoffs.
2012–13 season
Prior to the season, despite multiple players from his draft class receiving contract extensions, including Blake Griffin and James Harden, the Bucks chose not to extend Jennings' contract, making him a restricted free agent at the end of the 2012–13 season.
During the Bucks home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jennings made a game-winning three at the buzzer to win the game for the Bucks.
Jennings teamed up with Monta Ellis, who was acquired at the 2012 trade deadline, to lead the Bucks back to the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season.
Detroit Pistons (2013–2016)
2013–14 season
On July 31, 2013, Jennings was signed-and-traded to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton and Viacheslav Kravtsov. On January 11, 2014, in a game against the Phoenix Suns, Jennings recorded 16 assists in the first half, tying Isiah Thomas' franchise record for the most assists in a half.
2014–15 season
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. 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 since Steve Nash in 2009.
On January 25, 2015, Jennings was ruled out for the rest of the season due to a ruptured left Achilles tendon that required surgery. On the season, he averaged 15.4 points, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 41 games.
2015–16 season
On December 17, 2015, Jennings voluntarily reported to the Grand Rapids Drive, the Pistons' D-League affiliate, on a rehab assignment. In his debut with the Drive on December 19, Jennings recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 assists in 27 minutes against the Iowa Energy. He was recalled by the Pistons the next day. 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. 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.
Orlando Magic (2016)
On February 16, 2016, Jennings was traded to the Orlando Magic, along with Ersan İlyasova, in exchange for Tobias Harris. The next day, he made his debut with the Magic in a 110–104 win over the Dallas Mavericks, recording 18 points, three rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes.
New York Knicks (2016–present)
On July 8, 2016, Jennings signed with the New York Knicks. He made his debut for the Knicks in the team's season opener on October 25, 2016 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 21 minutes off the bench, he recorded seven points, three rebounds and five assists in a 117–88 loss. On December 11, he scored 15 of his season high-tying 19 points in the fourth quarter of the Knicks' 118–112 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. On December 31, he set a new season high with 32 points in a 129–122 loss to the Houston Rockets.
Career statistics
| Legend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||||||
Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the player participated for the team during the season. He also played in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.
NBA
Regular season
| 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 | .373 | .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 |
| Career | 460 | 416 | 32.3 | .390 | .350 | .799 | 3.1 | 5.9 | 1.3 | .2 | 15.5 |
Playoffs
| 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 |
| Career | 11 | 11 | 34.7 | .373 | .261 | .773 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 1.5 | .5 | 16.7 |
Euroleague
| 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
- 2005 Press Telegram Freshmen Player of the Year
- Named the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 Les Schwab Invitational Tournament
- Co-MVP of the 2007 Elite 24 Hoops Classic (with Tyreke Evans)
- 2007 Third-team Parade All-American
- 2007 Las Vegas Easter Classic Most Valuable Player
- 2007 NBAPS Top 100 High School Camp Best Playmaker
- 2007 The Goazcats.com Showdown 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
- No. 1 rated senior by ESPN (2008)
- No. 1 rated senior by Van Coleman Hoopmaster (2008)
- No. 1 rated senior by Clark Franics Hoopscoop (2007 and 2008)
- No. 1 rated senior by Dave Telep Scout.com 2008
- Eastern Conference NBA Rookie of the Month (Oct./Nov. 2009)
- Eastern Conference NBA Rookie of the Month (Dec. 2009)
- Eastern Conference NBA Rookie of the Month (Jan. 2010)
- 2009–10 NBA 1st Team All-Rookie (unanimous selection)
Records
NBA records
- Youngest player in NBA history to score 50 or more points in a game
- 20 years, 52 days
- 55, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009
Ranks 2nd in NBA history in:
- Field goals made, quarter
- 12, third quarter, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009
- Tied with six other players who have made 12 field goals in a quarter
- NBA record is held by David Thompson and Klay Thompson, tied with 13
Milwaukee Bucks franchise records
Rookie
- Points, game, rookie: 55, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009
- Tied with multiple players for 4th highest tally in NBA history by a rookie
- Field goals made, game, rookie: 21, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009
Franchise
- Points, half: 45, second half, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009
- Points, quarter: 29, third quarter, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009
- Field goals made, half: 17, second half, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009
- Field goals made, quarter: 12, third quarter, vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009
Personal life
After the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake, while he was playing in Italy in April 2009, Jennings donated $50,000 to support victims.
Jennings participated in Steve Nash's Showdown in Chinatown charity soccer match in New York City on June 24, 2010.
Jennings, specifically his relationship with Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles, was the subject of the song "Chartjunk" by indie rock band Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks in 2014.