Brandon Jennings has been good. After skipping college to go play professionally in Europe not everyone was convinced he could be a team leader over here, but he started out on fire and had an impressive rookie season.
But injuries slowed him last season — he missed 19 games and was never quite right. He still put up numbers that were a slight improvement on the season before, but he didn’t make a leap forward. His jump shot was still inconsistent (32 percent from three) and his assist percentage was down slightly. His slide and problems mirrored a tough season in Milwaukee.
This summer he is getting healthy and told the Journal Sentinel he plans to make the leap next season.“I’m just getting back to the basics of basketball,” said Jennings, who worked out regularly at the team’s training facility before the NBA lockout was imposed July 1. “Just working on my fundamentals. Getting set back last year with the injury made me have a different approach to the game. It’s not (taken for) granted.
“Next year will be my third year and I need to establish myself as one of the best point guards and one of the best players in the game. It’s just trying to get better and better every day. Working with Scott Skiles (before the lockout), getting in the weight room, dedicating the summer to strictly basketball. It’s going to be my third year, so it’s time to become an all-star.”
That Jennings is putting in the time this summer is a good sign for Bucks fans.
But All Star? Let’s run through the point guards in the East he would need to beat out: Derrick Rose, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, John Wall, Chauncey Billups. That is one tough nut to crack.
Jennings is going to have to make a real leap — and the Buck are going to have to improve and win more games to get people’s attention. But it’s a good goal. One should have lofty goals.
