Brandon Jennings, Heading To Europe
July 9, 2008
This NY Times article from last night seems to indicate that Brandon Jennings (”The Takeover”) is seriously considering the European option. This ESPN article from early this morning confirmed it: Brandon Jennings is skipping college ball to go play in Europe:
“That’s a moot point now,” [Jenning’s lawyer] Valle said. “He’s not going to the University of Arizona. Brandon plans on going to Europe.”
One of the big issues in play here is that Jennings is from Compton. He’s not rich. He’s not even middle class. He’s poor. His family is poor, unless you count his cousin, also from LA, Marcus Williams, who currently plays for the NJ Nets.
It is suspected that Italian basketball clubs are offering $300,000 for one season overseas. One season that the NBA is requiring him to play elsewhere, either in college, or wherever, before he meets the age requirement to be an NBA player.
Could Jennings have gotten a better deal from Arizona? Well, if he had ended up going there, you can bet that he got paid somehow. But obviously Arizona, presuming they were even offering any under-the-table incentives to go there, can’t compete with the strong Euro. $300,000 is less than 200,000 Euros, a small fee for a very talented American player who will draw a lot of attention to whatever Italian club ends up singing him.
The odd thing about it? That Sonny Vaccaro (the shady sneaker company star) is the inspiration:
Jennings said he heard the former sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro talk about Europe as an option on a radio show, and he and his mother have consulted Vaccaro about it.
And the ESPN article mentions that Vaccaro is going to play a big part in the decision for Jennings, on which club to sign with. In other words, Sonny has gone from being a not-quite-behind-the-scene power in the sneaker wars to recruit high school players, to being a not-quite-behind-the-scene power in a new war - the war between colleges and now European clubs to recruit the top players coming out of high school. The type of player who is only going to go to college for one season, anyway, before declaring himself eligible for the NBA draft.
How much did Bill Walker’s infamous knee injury play into this decision? It seems likely it would have happened eventually, anyway, but I have to imagine that Walker, the Dunking God who was a top high school recruit in 2006, losing a season to a devastating knee injury, and falling all the way to the 47th pick in this year’s draft, must have accelerated the process of a top high school recruit choosing to go to a European club to insure at least one decent payday. I won’t say it’s a strong factor, as Bill Walker’s situation is a bit unique - he had already had an ACL injury in 2003 - but I do think it play a role, none the less.
“There has to be this pioneer, the individual who has the courage, the ambition to overcome the obstacles that always develop when one tries to do something worthwhile, especially when it is new and different.”
-Alfred P. Sloan
The trickle down effect on future prospects is what’s really important here. Brandon Jennings is just the pioneer (and believe me, someone was going to do it, sooner or later). The pioneer always determines the future of others in similar situations, based on his outcome - success or failure. Lance Stephenson, from a similar poor background (Coney Island), will be watching. DeMar DeRozan, another possible unqualified (academically) student, might also jump ship to Europe.
Interesting point #2: Calipari, along with a bunch of other college basketball advocates, point out that it is not good for Jennings to play against “more physically dominating competition“, and that it could hurt his draft stock.
That made me laugh a bit. Two points: One, going to Arizona (Jenning’s preferred college of choice, assuming he even qualified academically) has never really helped anyone’s stock. A lot of good pros - Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson, Mike Bibby, Jason Terry etc. - have attended there, but no one has ever really jumped into the top-5 there. I believe (I am not positive) that Damon Stoudemire and Channing Frye, both taken at #7 (both by Isiah Thomas, ironically), are the highest picks from Arizona University.
Secondly, and this is where, if you are a Knicks fan, you should smile a bit to yourself: Keep in mind that the Knicks #1 pick this year, Danilo, as been going toe to toe with that same “physically dominating competition” since he was 16. The same age guys like Jennings were going up against high school students. And Danilo dominated that same competition. He was pretty much the MVP this past season in Italy, at 18 years old. Either Jennings will have just as much success, or Danilo is a far better prospect than a blue-chip high school student like Jennings. I won’t pretend to know the answer, but The Takeover spending a year in Italy would go a long way to resolving that question.
Finally, it will be very interesting to see how a street-baller, a guy with an urban game like Jennings - great handle, great passer - fits into the Euro game. Will he lead the team to a title? Will he be on the bench for most games? Will he handle the transition smoothly, or will the culture shock mess him up? If the team does well, will Jennings perhaps consider extending his stay over there, or even play in tournament competition? Perhaps Jennings will be on Team Italia in a future Olympic?
Let’s finish with some ill footage of Jennings in action. Here is The Takeover at the Jordan Classic, showcasing that ill handle and passing I keep referring to (yo, eff Derrick Rose, eff OJ Mayo - they are great players, but the best point guards with no NBA experience right now are Brandon Jennings and Rick Rubio, and next year’s draft class will outshine the 2008 Draft Class. I wrote it, etch it in stone.):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wXJvsWEmcw
Next up, peep this Bobby Brown looking cat at the McDonald’s Classic. Every little step, indeed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6MowgvwvlQ
Okay, I’m rambling now. One more, and we are done: Jennings at Rucker Park, in the Elite 24 game in 2006 (he was even better in 2007):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbRI21XcAac
Comments
33 Responses to “Brandon Jennings, Heading To Europe”
Got something to say?
SML,
I posted this question under your last article, and it’s a little off topic in either case, but I’m interested in an answer nonetheless: are “student-athletes” like Jennings the only ones who attend elite “prep” schools but can’t pass the friggin SAT?
There are actually many questions wrapped inside that one. So what say you?
Good article SML. I still would take rose and mayo over Jennings. However I feel that Jennings is a better NBA prospect then Rubio. Now will Jenning be a better euro player then rubio probably not. Due to tha fact rubio has been a pro for years and has played by Fiba rules most of his BBall life.
As far as the pimp Calipari talking about physicality thats a joke. Would it be any different if he went to the NBA.
Heck Telfair is smaller then him and went straight to the pros. Physicality was never the problem. Being able to shoot was.
Jennings has a good jump shoot along with handles and passing. Now the question is will he get the coaching. In my view black american players have a stigma in europe as being selfish and ignorant often times there is a backlash to them. however I am sure their is the same backlash but to a lesser degree with the black euros and africans who play on the european teams (we all know how some of them fine folks in europe act….look at the throwing bananas and making hitler signs during soccer games).
I wish the young brotha well. The sad part is you have idiots all across america wanting bad to happen to this kid. Just because he wanted to play in europe. I swear the hate for these guys never ceases to amaze me. Wishing a 18 year old kid fails…..dang some folks have no life.
Also if this catches on and other players do this what is the next move by the NBA / NCAA.
How about the euro league. Do they relax their rules on how many foreigners can be on a team. Because this is a way they can make money. Get the young american players develope them and when they are ready to go to the NBA make the NBA pay a large buyout.
How does this effect the euro team fans. Do they see these americans as taking spots away from deserving euro players.
Man I can’t wait to see this. Best believe if this catches on you haven’t heard the last from Stern or the Pimp NCAA.
Ok so I watched the vids (my first look ever at the kid) and you’re right: he’s nice. Is there any clearer evidence of Allen Iverson’s influence on youth and the game of basketball?
Anyway, another question: how does a kid from Compton adjust to life in an entirely different country? Will his life’s experiences up to now help or hurt him in this major transition? And where does he go from here? Renaissance man? New Negro?
I’ve got answers to these questions, but I’m more interested in hearing from others (in addition to the usual arguments against the NBA age requirement and the NCAA pimp/plantation system, which have, of course, given rise to this unique experiment from young Mr Jennings, and which, I’m sure, many of you are more than ready to discuss).
Lastpoet before I went to grad school I was looking into going to Silvan learning center for help with the GMAT. I spoke with a guy who worked at Silvan and he informed me that alot of kids that go to prep schools are unable to pass the ACT or SAT with the required scores to get in many colleges. So the parents send them to Silvan to prepare for the test.
He even stated that he deals with student athletes and gets them ready for the ACT and SAT.
TheLastPoet didn’t AI destroy basketball I mean thats what the talking heads told me???
I mean doesn’t Jennings shoot all the time and never pass???
Isn’t he a ball hog?????
Bibby went number 2.
And, I didn’t realize Jennings got up like that. Little man has some real bounce. He palms the ball a little too much, but I don’t see why he should be successful in Europe.
My bad, that should have read “I don’t see why he woudn’t be successful in Europe.”
Good stuff, LP and Origin.
LP: I can’t say I’m qualified in any way to answer your question, but I’ll give you my thoughts on the topic (of prep schooler and SAT scores). Origin brings up a good aspect - a lot of rich kids (figure prep school means rich kid, unless they are on scholarships - need-based or athletics) have access to that extra help they need to help them get by… test-prep services like Kaplan, and stuff like personal tutoring. How else would our current POTUS get into Harvard, if not for those kinds of perks?!?
I’ve known a few guys that went to prep schools (LaSalle High School, etc) on athletic scholarships… most of them “dropped out” before they graduated. They don’t count in the prep school stats, because they were “transferred”, excuse me… they transferred on their own, of course, wink wink… to their local public high school, which is the one that is credited with the drop-out/low SAT score. Not the fine prep school, of course. I would bet that would seem to be the likely case in most prep schools… if you aren’t going to make it to college, or do well on the SAT, they would probably push you to go mess up some other high school’s numbers, you know? We don’t want your 800 SAT score here!
Again, this is the behind-the-scenes stuff that I think would actually make for a great TV series.
LP: I was also thinking Iverson throughout those clips. That’s the best handle I’ve seen since The Answer. And Jennings might even be a more pass-oriented guard than AI. The video clips showed someone who was willing to give up easy baskets just so someone else could score… that’s why I think he’s a bit better of a point guard prospect than Rose or Mayo.
Origin: the culture shock questions really intrigue me, too. From Compton to Rome/Milan? It’s not easy, but on the other hand, Jennings isn’t a typical 18 year old kid. He’s been around adult handlers his whole life. He’s been a profession since he was 13. He’s probably already dealt with more lawyers, agents, business people than most 40 year olds. Just saying… that’s a factor, too.
Yeah Big man and Lastpoet that young man does have great handles and bball IQ.
He does palm the ball a little too much but actually in the europe he can get away with that. The NBA has been cracking down on palming the last 2 to 3 years. Yet in the euroleague not sure about the italian and other leagues. Palming is as common as moving picks.
No lie watch the NBA live tour this year and watch how even the europe players are shocked to get called for palming its almost never called there. Now traveling thats different they will call that.
Great point brotha Big man on Jennings being a professional and dealing with agents and lawyers since he was a kid. The young man is mature beyond most folks when it comes to that. My only concern is the teams and fans view and how they treat him. If a young brotha can survive in Compton he can survive anywhere.
I can’t wait to see him. After watching dang near all his highlights on Youtube
SML and the rest of you guys may be right about him being better then rose….not sure about OJ yet.
Sorry stopmikelupica I meant to mention you instead of big man.
I wish Brandon Jennings well. If he gets $300k to play in Europe and can help his family out (I mean, GENUINELY, help them out,) I’m all for it.
I see Iverson on the crossover, but not after that. AI might pass after he draws the double, but Jenning just seems like he would rather have his teammate score. It was only a little bit of video I saw, but he sure seemed like a pass-first PG to me. Don’t see him getting the selfish tag in Europe.
———————————————————————————-
“Anyway, another question: how does a kid from Compton adjust to life in an entirely different country?”
LP: Like SML, I also feel unqualified as besides the contents of this article, I really know almost nothing about Brandon Jennings himself, the-Europe transition, and growing up in Compton beyond pop-culture stereotypes. But since it seems like you really seem to want engage this point, I will also give it a shot knowing full well that my conjecture could be completely talking out of my ass, but will — at minumum — serve to continue your discussion.
On one level, I don’t think that he would have a much harder time than anyone else given the cultural gap in Europe. If he has difficuties adjusting, i suspect it will have little to do with the fact that he is from Compton or poor, but rather that he is simply black and might not be embraced as much as a white-American ballplayer. Has negotiating the global cultural gap and racism around the world been any more difficult for the Williams sisters than confronting it, at say, Indian Wells, California (remember the taunts?)
On another level, he may actually have an advantage in that he has already had practice negotiating the gap between two cultural worlds right here in America, and this experience and survival skills might serve him well in Europe. Okay, enough uninformed conjecture here, what are your own thoughts LP?
I would add in to Modi’s comments this thought: It really depends on which European country. Italy might be rough, but Kobe seems fond of it, so who knows? If the Netherlands had a league, it might be very appealing to black Americans. I’ve heard from several African-Americans who have been to Holland, independent of each other, and all of them were surprised at how accepting the Dutch are. They do have a black community there, so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. France or the UK would probably be a better location, for similar reason - they at least have a large black minority. Italy doesn’t, which would make Jennings a sort of double-minority. That’s one factor.
The specific city probably matters, too. A large international city, like London or Paris, or maybe even Rome, is a big difference than a smaller city, like Milan.
And still another factor is which team he ends up on. If you look at the Italian League - http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=ITA&Team=293 - you’ll see that most teams have about two black American players on their teams. Some have more, some less, but two seems the standard. Let’s say he ends up on Benneton (I picked them at random): they have five American nationals on the team, including four of color. And they also have a Under-20 team, which Brandon Jennings might end up playing on. On such a team, he would be a leader, which might make him much more comfortable.
The main point of my comments: I guess there are way too many factors involved for us to really speculate on how he will deal. It’s like saying “How will Yao do in the US?” It really depends on the team, the teammates, the coaches, the city, the fanbase, the media. And those are all specific for each team. I think once we see which team he signs with - and I’m betting Sonny Vaccaro will be very careful about which team he “places” Brandon Jennings on - we’ll be better able to speculate. My guess is Jennings ends up on a team like Benneton… one with lots of American nationals, and young guys who would look up to Jennings, rather than a team with uppity Italian veterans who might not want to defer to a young American hotshot.
“One, going to Arizona (Jenning’s preferred college of choice, assuming he even qualified academically) has never really helped anyone’s stock. A lot of good pros - Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson, Mike Bibby, Jason Terry etc. - have attended there, but no one has ever really jumped into the top-5 there.”
You forgot Sean Elliott, #3 overall in 1989, behind Pervis Ellison and Danny Ferry
A little confused here on this Jennings guy. He plays basketball. He needs a job. He’s going to get one. What’s the debate here? Fuck (sorry Dwil) Stern and the whole NBA overseer beaurocracy and that fucking stupid-ass, racist “age” rule. Yeah right. “Age” rule my ass. Dismantle the NCAA plantation. I just can’t stand those people. Can. Not. Stand. Them.
LOL!
Breath easy and count to 10 Grace. This is just the birth of a nation people panicking. The young man is a pathfinder, with more to follow!
Man, I love this. More power to him. I hope he is paid in Euros too!
Man, I love this. More power to him. I hope he is paid in Euros too!
Sorry to highjack but I just saw this hard-ass video from Cube and Killer Mike
http://videos.onsmash.com/v/B7ip73kk94qmpcMU
It’s simply amazing how on most every other blog (AOL, Sporting News, etc.) there are more people than not wishing for this kid to fail so that no harm comes to the NCAA’s indentured servitude system. The only people who could have any reason to complain MIGHT be Arizona fans since fandom includes the ability to be myopic and selfish when your alma mater is affected. Otherwise, Jennings will probably end up more pro-ready than he would have been playing for the Wildcats. Playing with professionals is a much better test of his abilities than is playing in the Pac-10.
The only thing he might be worried about is that anger over a young black man daring to cross the NCAA Plantation system would combine with the already strong xenophobia rampant in basketball writers to drop his stock below the top 5, which that video shows he clearly deserves.
“Playing with professionals is a much better test of his abilities than is playing in the Pac-10″
Exactly!
D@MN brotha awb killa mike and cube came hard as he11 on that.
They came hard like Dwil last 2 articles on race.
Wish they could have played this video on July 4 instead of (odious) odes to Jesse Helms.
Many thoughts here already.
Grace, you pretty much completely said it all and saved me the trouble. Thanks.
MODI
I’m with you one Jennings. He looks better to me than Mayo and Rose.
mayo is going to surprise folks.
Cosign with Big man, Mayo is That Dude.
Would’ve said more about Jennings’ Compton to FIBA move, but Origin, Okori, and TBR said almost everything I was going to say. They said it over at TSF, though.
One thing I’ll add: American women have been playing pro ball in Europe for years, of course - but they’ve had the benefit of a college education beforehand. And by “benefit” I mostly mean the added maturity and experience that those extra four years can bring. Nonetheless, they seem to come back with a new world perspective that is life altering in the extreme. On the other hand, there still exists that vexing probelm of racism…
That young man will have the time of his life in Europe - he’ll make good money, learn a new language, get the chance to see America/Black America from a whole new perspective and won’t live in fear of gunshots and drive-by’s. I hope he brings his family out to visit him at some point; they’d be proud.
Good on him, and buona fortuna!
It is rumored that Lottomatica Virtus Roma (Rome’s pro basketball team) made an offer for a 1+1 years deal to Jennings. The kid has enough talent to shock the SerieA (Italy’s top league) and impress in the Euroleague, where Lottomatica virtus is playing.
Some 200 Usa pro-ball players are in Italy at every time ensuring a community to reach for and to ask guidance to. Some of them live here with their families, some of them even speak the language.
100% of every pro team staff speaks basic english and no language barrier is really in the way of technical and athletic activities. Due to the diverse ethnicities of team members English is the common way to communicate on and off the court for a team.
This is a great idea and hopefully it will clue people in that the NCAA is a ripoff if you’ve got elite talent. They’ve been running their scam too long: making billions while compensating their players very little. In the future they are either going to have to pay, or be content to field teams with players who can’t get paid elsewhere. And I think the latter is the way it should be.
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