Brandon Jennings' Learning Experience

Because of the way Brandon Jennings has taken the league by storm in the first weeks of the season, we sometimes forget that the guy turned 20 less than two months ago and is coming off a year in Italy where he didn’t play too many minutes.

For nearly four quarters against the Dallas Mavericks last night, Jennings was making us forget again. He led the Bucks back from a double-digit deficit, dropping long threes and floaters left and right. As regulation came to a close, Jennings had 23 points and eight assists, even as the Mavericks did everything they could to hound him.

But in the last stages of the game, we saw a Jennings that still has some growing to do. The Bucks had a chance to win the game in the closing seconds of regulation, but Jennings settled for a step-back three-pointer that missed badly, sending the game into overtime. Then, after an overtime period where his only points came on two free throws, Jennings once again had a chance to give Milwaukee the win, but he again settled for a stepback three-pointer that was partially blocked. Dallas got the ball back and won the game on a Dirk Nowitzki buzzer beater.

Hindsight is 20/20, but considering how quick Jennings is, there’s no reason he should be settling for stepback three-pointers with the game on the line. Take it to the rack, son! We all know that referees will give you the call if it’s borderline. You just have to get there.

Jennings will no doubt learn from his experience last night, but it just serves as a reminder that everyone suffers adversity on the way to the top. In the 1997 playoffs, a 20-year old Kobe Bryant ended the Lakers season with three air-balls in the final stretches of a playoff game against the Utah Jazz. The stakes weren’t nearly as high for Jennings as they were from Bryant, but the lesson is the same. Here’s hoping Jennings learns as Bryant did.