Brandon Jennings

[perks-a-beast]

This kid can flat out play. I'm going to be honest, I had my doubts about this kid when he was drafted. I thought he'd struggle adjusting to the NBA game and maybe eventually lose his starting job to Ridnour but boy has he proved me wrong.

Dude scored 32 points and dished out 9 assists against the Nuggets last night-No easy feat. Right now he is leading all rookies in scoring with 21ppg (also leading scorer of the Bucks). He's also got 5apg, and is shooting a monstrous percentage from 3 point land. He just looks really comfortable running the Bucks offense and is doing it effectively. It's looking like the time he spent in the euro league is really paying off handsomely for him.

I know it's early but if he can continue playing like this, i think alot of young prospects will follow in his footsteps and start skipping out on college and playing in the euro leagues to get some pro experience before coming to the NBA.

[Kwhit10]

Yea he's definitely been a surprise so far, no one projected him to be this good based off of his Euro league numbers.  Good for him and Milwaukee.

[Amonkey]

Seems like Euro really helped him.  It also blurries the line of Euro stats as well.  I dont remember him having monster numbers in Euro, it seems like he would have better stats in college, but he comes to the league and is ripping it up.

[MBz]

I'm not sure if kids will continue to go over.  I thought people said he had a tough time adjusting to the life over there.  Also, Jeremy Tyler is not doing very well over there and it seems as if his draft stock is really taking a hit by him being there.

[Celtic]

TP, wow, you read my mind, I came here just now to post this exact same thread. I always pick a few players on other teams to watch and see how they progress, and he has been my number one pick this season. It is really impressive to see what he is doing out there, especially given his alternate route to the NBA.

[Greenbean]

I dont know if many prospects will go over. It happened to be a good fit for Jennings, perhaps not so much for others.

I will say this. Europe is a fantastic place to go to learn fundamental basketball. Learning the European game translates better to the NBA than college does.

[Chris]

I know it's early but if he can continue playing like this, i think alot of young prospects will follow in his footsteps and start skipping out on college and playing in the euro leagues to get some pro experience before coming to the NBA.

Well, I think the argument is that playing in Europe for a year actually cost him a lot of money.  Had he stayed in the US and played in college, I think there is a good chance he would gone 7 or 8 spots higher in the draft, making him a lot more money. 

Ultimately though, I don't think it will have a huge effect on future prospects going over there...at least any more than it had the second he made the announcement.  That kind of sent a ripple, and put the idea in a lot of guys heads, but I think the results were too unbalanced to really make much more of an influence.

As far as Jennings goes, I have been VERY impressed with him.  He seems to have a great feel for the game, as well an incredible quickness.  He reminds a little of Rondo...with a jumpshot.

[KungPoweChicken]

I don't understand why any talented player coming out of high school, who is a lock to play in the NBA, wouldn't want to play in Europe for a year, at the expense of going to college for a year. What do you lose? Hook ups with the girls? Partying and a little drugs? Those, in all honesty, don't seem like good reasons to go to college and pass up playing pro ball and making a million plus dollars, because we know one and done guys and even two and done guys aren't going to college for the books.

I hope Jennings has started a new trend. There is no reason for someone who wants to play basketball for a living to go to college. It's a terrible rule.

[Donoghus]

I don't understand why any talented player coming out of high school, who is a lock to play in the NBA, wouldn't want to play in Europe for a year, at the expense of going to college for a year. What do you lose? Hook ups with the girls? Partying and a little drugs? Those, in all honesty, don't seem like good reasons to go to college and pass up playing pro ball and make a million plus dollars, because we know one and done guys and even two and done guys aren't going to college for the books.

Well, there's the perception that playing overseas might hurt their assessed draft value thus decreasing earning potential on their first contract dictated by their draft slot. Not to mention lack of exposure.  Compare college basketball highlights on ESPN versus European highlights.  Night & day.

Also, moving from the United States to Europe can be a heckuva lifestyle adjustment.  Especially for a 17 or 18 year old.  That's a big culture shock.

[Chris]

I don't understand why any talented player coming out of high school, who is a lock to play in the NBA, wouldn't want to play in Europe for a year, at the expense of going to college for a year. What do you lose? Hook ups with the girls? Partying and a little drugs? Those, in all honesty, don't seem like good reasons to go to college and pass up playing pro ball and make a million plus dollars, because we know one and done guys and even two and done guys aren't going to college for the books.

I hope Jennings has started a new trend. There is no reason for someone who wants to play basketball for a living to go to college. It's a terrible rule.

Well, I think something can be said for the college lifestyle.  I am not sure what it is like as a pro basketball player in Europe, but I can imagine it is a heck of a lot of fun to be the star of a college basketball team.  It is kind of a chance to still be a kid for a little longer, while going to Europe, you are being thrown into adult-hood.

[Rondo2287]

I don't understand why any talented player coming out of high school, who is a lock to play in the NBA, wouldn't want to play in Europe for a year, at the expense of going to college for a year. What do you lose? Hook ups with the girls? Partying and a little drugs? Those, in all honesty, don't seem like good reasons to go to college and pass up playing pro ball and making a million plus dollars, because we know one and done guys and even two and done guys aren't going to college for the books.

I hope Jennings has started a new trend. There is no reason for someone who wants to play basketball for a living to go to college. It's a terrible rule.

Ya except for missing out on that free college education if basketball or whatever sport you are there for doesnt work out.  Im sure Gerald is gonna wish he had an education in a couple of years. 

[Fafnir]

I don't understand why any talented player coming out of high school, who is a lock to play in the NBA, wouldn't want to play in Europe for a year, at the expense of going to college for a year. What do you lose? Hook ups with the girls? Partying and a little drugs? Those, in all honesty, don't seem like good reasons to go to college and pass up playing pro ball and making a million plus dollars, because we know one and done guys and even two and done guys aren't going to college for the books.

I hope Jennings has started a new trend. There is no reason for someone who wants to play basketball for a living to go to college. It's a terrible rule.

Ya except for missing out on that free college education if basketball or whatever sport you are there for doesnt work out.  Im sure Gerald is gonna wish he had an education in a couple of years. 

He made more than enough money the night he was drafted to pay for college wherever he wants.

[KungPoweChicken]

I don't understand why any talented player coming out of high school, who is a lock to play in the NBA, wouldn't want to play in Europe for a year, at the expense of going to college for a year. What do you lose? Hook ups with the girls? Partying and a little drugs? Those, in all honesty, don't seem like good reasons to go to college and pass up playing pro ball and making a million plus dollars, because we know one and done guys and even two and done guys aren't going to college for the books.

I hope Jennings has started a new trend. There is no reason for someone who wants to play basketball for a living to go to college. It's a terrible rule.

Ya except for missing out on that free college education if basketball or whatever sport you are there for doesnt work out.  Im sure Gerald is gonna wish he had an education in a couple of years. 

Gerlad Green can still go get an education. What does the NBA have to do with school? The only thing the NBA prevents players from doing is going back and playing college basketball.

[Rondo2287]

I don't understand why any talented player coming out of high school, who is a lock to play in the NBA, wouldn't want to play in Europe for a year, at the expense of going to college for a year. What do you lose? Hook ups with the girls? Partying and a little drugs? Those, in all honesty, don't seem like good reasons to go to college and pass up playing pro ball and making a million plus dollars, because we know one and done guys and even two and done guys aren't going to college for the books.

I hope Jennings has started a new trend. There is no reason for someone who wants to play basketball for a living to go to college. It's a terrible rule.

Ya except for missing out on that free college education if basketball or whatever sport you are there for doesnt work out.  Im sure Gerald is gonna wish he had an education in a couple of years. 

He made more than enough money the night he was drafted to pay for college wherever he wants.

So did Antoine

[footey]

This kid can flat out play. I'm going to be honest, I had my doubts about this kid when he was drafted. I thought he'd struggle adjusting to the NBA game and maybe eventually lose his starting job to Ridnour but boy has he proved me wrong.

Dude scored 32 points and dished out 9 assists against the Nuggets last night-No easy feat. Right now he is leading all rookies in scoring with 21ppg (also leading scorer of the Bucks). He's also got 5apg, and is shooting a monstrous percentage from 3 point land. He just looks really comfortable running the Bucks offense and is doing it effectively. It's looking like the time he spent in the euro league is really paying off handsomely for him.

I know it's early but if he can continue playing like this, i think alot of young prospects will follow in his footsteps and start skipping out on college and playing in the euro leagues to get some pro experience before coming to the NBA.

Great point. TP for you, PAB.