One week into the NBA season and already several great stories have
made their way into the spotlight. Perhaps the most surprising story
has been the play of rookie point guard Brandon Jennings.
The
tenth overall pick by the Bucks has had his journey well documented. He
spurned college after high school in favor of playing pro ball in
Italy. It's a decision that Jennings himself has credited to his early
success.
Jennings has made it very easy for fans to get excited
about his future. In his debut game, he was one rebound and assist shy
of recording a triple double. He followed that up with back-to-back
20-plus point games against division rivals Detroit and Chicago.
Fans
and most media outlets have fallen in love with Jennings. They have
vaulted him to the top of Rookie of the Year talk, and some are already
throwing out phrases like "future superstar" and "perennial All-Star".
That's very high praise for a player that turned 20 less than two
months ago.
Before everyone is so quick to anoint Jennings as the
next great anything, they should take a closer look at recent Bucks'
history. That history will show he is already a player the team might
not need.
One of the biggest criticisms of former Bucks' point
guards was their shoot first, pass second mentality. Throngs of fans
became bitter and eventually booed Mo Williams and even Ramon Sessions
for their propensity to find their own shots before getting teammates
involved.
In his first three games, Jennings has taken 54
shots. To his credit, he is shooting over 48% from the field, showing
no signs of intimidation in his new surroundings. He's shooting an even
better percentage behind the three-point line, hitting half of his
attempts.
In Jennings' defense, Michael Redd has only played a
game and a half and will miss at least the next two weeks due to a knee
strain, giving everyone the opportunity for more shots. Coach Scott
Skiles needs to make sure that Jennings doesn't get in any bad habits
however by taking too many of those shots.
Even
when Milwaukee is at full strength, they have no "superstar" player on
their roster. They must take on a true team mentality and find the
success from the greater good as opposed to any one individual. Hakim
Warrick and Andrew Bogut should be the ones to benefit most from Redd's absence, not Jennings.
There
is no doubting Brandon Jennings talent. It's easy to see in the speed
and confidence he shows on the court. He may very well be the next
great point guard in the NBA, but his time isn't quite yet.
No
matter how great of an experience Italy was for him and how that might
have sped up his maturity level, he's still just a wide-eyed, 20-year
old rookie. Before he grabs the NBA by its throat, he needs to do the
same with the Bucks and be a true floor general. He can then worry
about being a true superstar.