That year the team had its best season in 40 years, reaching the semi-final of the conference – only to fall short in game seven against the Celtics. “I’m proud the record still holds, but it will be broken. Once you turn 18, you must have a choice. “The prep-to-pro takes away the fun of college basketball. Jennings told RT that he did not think at the time that his move would change the game for many young players, but he already thought the “one-and-done” system was hugely unfair on youngsters who dreamed of making a move to the NBA. So we went into game seven, but fell short. And win that league, bro pic.twitter.com/xy6AeJrnsK. Fan support is crazy there. He named a few memorable wins to RT. #NBABDAYpic.twitter.com/i9HcN5w10R. It just depends. So I’m excited for the challenge,” said Jennings. So dealing with it mentally was tough – I kept asking myself where I was going with my career. He also picked a current rookie player who he believes is capable of breaking his 10-year-old record. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. The basketball just kept going in and I couldn’t stop.”. “It’s a lot of pressure playing within the Garden [Madison Square]. Instead of going to college for a mandatory year before becoming a pro, he opted to play in Rome – for local club Virtus. He also said that he’s has little problem settling in to life in Russia. Jennings spent one season with the New York Knicks in 2016-17 – a time of mixed memories and emotions for the player. I loved it though – 20,000 screaming fans every night, win or lose. With the prospect of the controversial system being scrapped by the NBA soon, Jennings said he approved of that move. Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments. If you do a crime in America at 18, you’d go to prison and be tried as an adult. Jennings made huge headlines back in 2008, when he became the first young player in the US to circumvent NBA’s infamous “prep-to-pro” rule. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. But I had so many memorable games. When I grew up, guys used to go for several years and college basketball was so interesting. When former Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and Washington Wizards point guard Brandon Jennings announced he was moving to play in Russia, many experts were surprised, with some claiming he was simply after one last big payday. But just days prior to his debut for Zenit St. Petersburg, Jennings sat down with RT Sport’s Alexey Yaroshevsky for an exclusive interview – in which he vocally denied such allegations, stressing how much of a challenge for him it was to play in the Russian league. They are the most passionate and loyal fans I’ve ever seen.”. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system. “John Wall is such a great player, so being a back-up point guard when he’s first choice is tough. He told RT this was the darkest moment of his professional career. Scoring a game winner against Tim Duncan and San Antonio Spurs. “It was an eye-opening experience, really. Years later, he says the season he spent in Italy influenced his career – and life – significantly. In January 2015 Jennings suffered what many specialists call “a career ending injury” – a torn Achilles tendon. Surprisingly, Jennings does not necessarily see that game as the best of his career. “Coming off the bench was the toughest thing for me, because I was always starting. And I remember him telling me – young fella, if you do this you will change the game for the next young generation of players. “All my team mates and coaching staff are great. And I had to be the man of the house. So if I am an adult at 18, let me make my own decision.”, November 14, 2009: Brandon Jennings drops 55 PTS in just his 7th game in the @NBA.Happy Birthday, @brandonjennings. They are treating everyone with much respect and they do things right – so that makes me happy,” the 29-year-old said. — Brandon Jennings (@brandonjennings) August 31, 2018. And I still wasn’t healthy – plus I got overweight. Coach, he took me off the game and said I wasn’t ready to play. “I made the move because I got the opportunity to have a bigger role. It’s a shame we didn’t make it with so much talent – and to me this is probably one of the most disappointing years that the Knicks have had.”. Jennings admits that move was partly caused by his family’s well-being. It was a career-ending injury and I thought I would never play basketball again.”. After a short spell with the Knicks, Jennings moved to the capital to represent the Washington Wizards. pic.twitter.com/E1pkt8aruK. Despite the frustration of not making the play-offs that year, Jennings fondly remembers the Knicks family – calling them the best and the most loyal fans in the entire NBA. I tore my Achilles in Milwaukee – where I started my NBA career. All rights reserved. I wanted to start. I did it in three quarters too. The second part of our exclusive interview with Jennings will be published next week. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. But the love for the game prevented me from doing that. So Zenit gave me the chance to show the people around the world that I still got it. “When I was at the Knicks, I felt we should’ve made the playoffs – Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, myself, Porzingis. It was tough. This website uses cookies. He can play 40 minutes a night – and a lot of weight is on his shoulders.”. I think Trae Young from Atlanta Hawks will break it – because he has the green light to shoot whenever he wants. “At the time I thought my career was over. I still think that game seven was the most painful loss of my career.”. I do feel the way the game is played today, the record won’t hold. “At the time I was broke in a single-parent-mother home. And then I came out in the second half the basket just felt huge to me. We needed money. “John Wall hit one of the biggest shots of his career in game six. READ MORE: Thousands sign petition to appoint LeBron James as US secretary of education. But 55 stands out, because I was a rookie.”. Jennings admitted he was close to quitting the game. So I made the best decision for me and my family.”. We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. Back then they would stay for two-three-years because there was loyalty to college, the atmosphere. I learned a lot about life. Having returned from Rome to the US, Jennings made a flying start to his NBA life – scoring 55 points in one game at the age of 20, setting a record which is still intact. But in the NBA I didn’t have that. Good luck in Russia with @zenitbasket, Brandon! This move was instrumental for me – especially mentally.”, 10 years ago today, Brandon Jennings—the top HS player in the country—made history by going pro in Italy instead of college.He got drafted 10th a year later. “I’ve been hearing from the guys, my friends, who play in this league – like Darrell Wright - that this is a tough league. Especially in three quarters. That season was also quite painful for Jennings – simply because, he says, being a back-up to Wall was tough. Subscribe to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media won’t tell you, Nike turns old church in Chicago into basketball facility (PHOTOS), Never underestimate older players: Man schools youngsters in basketball (VIDEO), Black & white athletes are held to different standards in US – LeBron James, 'I forgive McGregor': Khabib's father says Conor's tirade of insults 'in the past', Russian football stars detained over brutal cafe attack, assault on driver – reports. Jennings told RT that he did not think at the time that his move would change the game for many Once you turn 18, you must have a choice. Played against LeBron James, where we had to come back and beat them. I was close to giving up on basketball. I was playing my best basketball. “Scoring 55 is crazy. Game winner again against Cleveland. I’ve always had the mental edge.”. And I loved the idea – going to live and play in Rome at the age of 18.”. Read RT Privacy policy to find out more. “I love it. “I called Sonny Vaccaro – The Godfather of basketball. It wasn’t about the money – I’d play free, if that’s the case.". Now they only have to do one year, sometimes even 5 months – probably not even going to class.”. And he’s a great shooter.”, Completing the double-header of interviews in St. Petersburg - incredible and insightful chat with @brandonjennings - absolutely unmissable for anyone who’s ever watched NBA games. So you’re going to have to play – not just roll the ball and try to hit 30. We folded. If you do a crime in America at 18, you'd go to prison and be. “I still don’t know where that came from. Things which we think are important in America, in Europe people just don’t need them. As long as they have their team and their family – they are the happiest ever. I believe I can still be a starting point guard anywhere. 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