Brandon Jennings Saying All the Right Things After Summer League Debut

LAS VEGAS -- If you were expecting brashness after Brandon Jennings' NBA debut, you got humility. If you were expecting short, abrupt answers and bitterness, you got anecdotes and smiles.

Jennings, at least in his first interview after his NBA Summer League debut, didn't come across as arrogant, headstrong or pompous. He was expressive, revealing and humble following his 10-point, three-assist effort in Milwaukee's 65-59 win over the Dallas Mavericks late Friday night at Cox Pavilion. Jennings played like a 19-year-old in his first game in the United States in more than a year. He missed nine of 12 shots and played erratic at times, but once he calmed and became accustomed to the pressure and trash talk of former NBA guard Aaron Miles, Jennings displayed his enormous potential.

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And the fact he struggled in stretches wasn't lost on the controversial Jennings, who has made headlines for his criticism of Ricky Rubio and decision to skip college and play in Europe for a year.

"It was ugly for me, but we won the game and that's the most important thing right now," he said with a bright smile. "Our goal is to win five in a row so however we can get it, we're going to get it. [I was] nervous, had to get my wind up a little bit. I was coughing a lot, trying to get my lungs going, so that's why I played terrible in the first half but I tried to pick it up in the second half and help my team."

While Jennings bragged to rapper Joe Budden during a recorded conversation that he would be the greatest thing in Milwaukee since bratwurst and Robin Yount, this Jennings was affable with the media, hardly guarded and quite entertaining.

When asked about the worst experience of his year with Lottomatica Virtus Roma, he said, "The bad thing? We didn't have a dryer, that was one of the bad things. We had to hang dry our clothes, so we were probably hang drying our clothes for a couple of days."

And like any 19-year-old, Jennings was enamored with the travel. His overseas experience has been well-chronicled, as critics said his style was too selfish for the sophisticated European game and his minutes were inconsistent. He admitted that playing time was difficult to procure, especially with most of his teammates being far older and experienced.

"They [U.S. fans] don't throw coins or bottles [like in Europe] but they do a little trash talking, which is cool, but it's nothing like in Europe," he said. "[Being in Europe proved] that I am a pretty strong person mentally. Over there, it's tough, not playing, sitting on the bench a lot, 15 minutes this game, three minutes this game, but I think I showed a lot of people how mature I am."

His maturity has been questioned over the past month with his scathing remarks about Rubio; his late arrival at the the NBA Draft and, finally, more critical comments about Rubio, his Milwaukee teammates and the New York Knicks that were posted on YouTube. It's apparent Jennings has done some quick learning and adjusted his approach to the media. And at least on Friday, he didn't sacrifice his personality or expressiveness.

Jennings said his primary goal is to prove he can be a team player and court leader. Friday was a positive start.

"The main thing I tried to tell [my teammates] was just run," he said. " I'm going to give you the ball, that's what I do, I like to pass. So as long as they are running and getting out I am going to feed them. Just play basketball. They know I am going to make mistakes. They just want to see how I run a team and just play with confidence."

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LAS VEGAS - JULY 11: DeJuan Summers #35 of the Detroit Pistons shoots a free throw against the Toronto Raptors during NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports on July 11, 2009 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Austin Daye;DeMar DeRozan

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LAS VEGAS - JULY 11: Sean Singletary #6 of the Detroit Pistons goes to the basket against Patrick O'Bryant #13 of the Toronto Raptors during NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports on July 11, 2009 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sean Singletary;Patrick O'Bryant

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LAS VEGAS - JULY 10: Head coach Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks talks on the phone during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks during NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports on July 10, 2009 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick Carlisle

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LAS VEGAS - JULY 10: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban talks with president and general manager Bryan Colangelo of the Toronto Raptors during NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports on July 10, 2009 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Cuban;Bryan Colangelo

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Joe Dumars, president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons, foreground, and new head coach John Kuester spoke at a press conference, on Thursday, July 9, 2009, in Detroit, Michigan. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

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Detroit Pistons new head coach John Kuester spoke at a press conference, on Thursday, July 9, 2009, in Detroit, Michigan. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

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Detroit Pistons new head coach John Kuester spoke at a press conference, on Thursday, July 9, 2009, in Detroit, Michigan. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

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Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James rides a bicycle to a morning session at the annual Allen & Co.'s media summit in Sun Valley, Idaho, Friday, July 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Rashiyah Wallace, right, sits on the lap of her father, Boston Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace, who was signed as a free agent, during a news conference at the NBA basketball team's training facility in Waltham, Mass., Thursday July 9, 2009. Wallace, a 14-year NBA veteran, averaged 12.0 points and 7.4 rebounds with the Detroit Pistons last season. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

WALTHAM - JULY 9: Rasheed Wallace #30 of the Boston Celtics poses with his new jersey and family during a press conference on July 9, 2009 at the Boston Celtics Practice Facility in Waltham, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rasheed Wallace

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