NBA Central Player of the Year: Brandon Jennings

With Derrick Rose and Danny Granger out, Brandon Jennings is the new superstar in the Central

By: Doug Knopf 

What a week and what a season it has been for Brandon Jennings and his Milwaukee Bucks. No player was better than Bucks’ point guard Jennings this week by any margin. Gathering three wins this week, Jennings has his team in first place in the division and is looking to keep it that way.

AP Photo/ Don Ryan

Jennings’ numbers were great this week averaging just under 24 point per game, collecting 33 against the Sixers, 16 against the Pacers – in less than 30 minutes playing time – and 22 against the Hornets. He took only 49 shots in these three games, allowing him to obtain a field goal percentage of 53%. Doing his job, Jennings has been staying on the perimeter and letting other players slash through the paint. Always open for the kick-out three, Jennings has taken 22 long-ones in the last three games, about 45% of his shots. Usually this is bad, but when he makes about half of them, it is hard to complain. Jennings’ scoring ability, combined with his versatility in his position make him a star player.  

Besides scoring, this man has been a complete monster. In this past week’s games, Jennings has averaged seven assists, just one shy of his season average. He also finagled his way into averaging three steals per game and continues to lead the entire league in that category. One of the more amazing and most important statistics for a point guard is that Jennings committed less than one turnover per game during last week.  Turnovers change the momentum of a game and when a team’s point guard can take care of the ball, they have a better chance of winning. Causing turnovers and premiere ball handling make him one of the best in the one spot.

The Milwaukee Bucks are creeping into the spotlight and much of their credit is due to Brandon Jennings. Many people have also said their success is due to injuries crippling other teams in the division. But when all is said and done, it is about the numbers that a team and players put up. Right now, the Bucks and Brandon Jennings are putting up good numbers.