Brandon Jennings rocked the basketball world by joining Italy’s Lottomatica Roma out of high school—and stunned it again by retiring at 29. Jennings had a solid NBA career, contributing meaningfully across several teams. His abrupt exit in 2018 left fans—and the Bucks—scratching their heads. Years later, Jennings detailed more about his decision while revealing a surprising element about his relationship with his mother.

During his retirement, he mentioned his problems with his family. He cited that his friends and family kept asking him for money. As that took a toll on him, the former NBA player decided to leave basketball. During a recent interview with DJ Vlad, the host asked Jennings about his career, the abrupt end, and a specific incident involving his former team, Zenit Saint Petersburg.

In a now deleted post, Jennings mentioned that he will never play for a team with a father-son duo. “Lesson in life. I will never play for a team and the dad is coaching his SON! Never again!” he said. He may have hinted at coach Vasily Karasev and his son Sergey Karasev in Zenit Saint Petersburg. Contrary to Vlad’s guess that he’d been cut, Jennings insists he walked away. “After a couple games I was like ‘Yo, like I don’t even want to play basketball anymore.’ So I left so I told him I was like, ‘Yeah man I’m done.’“ Jennings said.

Pressed on his breaking point, Jennings admitted it was the ‘outside noise’—specifically the toxic mother‑son split. “I just think the outside noise. Like family like getting to know my mother like you know we didn’t have. We wasn’t having a good relationship. Just trying to figure out who I am…what’s next for me,” said the 2008 McDonald’s All-American.

Walking away from the sport he loved with all his heart was a tough choice. Much later, the former NBA player also expressed his regrets about another decision and that was buying a house for his mother. But why does he regret it?

As is known, he was one of the most ingenious players. After he found his college option in trouble, he went on to make a splash in a foreign league. Following his stint at Oak Hill he went on to play for Lottomatica Roma in Italy. He signed a $1.65 million deal with the team.

Why did Brandon Jennings regret buying a house for mother? 

Along with this, he also secured a $2 million deal with Under Armour. After a year, he was drafted by Milwaukee Bucks. Jennings used his first paycheck earned from playing in the EuroLeague to buy a house for his mother. But during his appearance on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast, Jennings added that he should have bought something for himself with the money.

He clarified that this regret doesn’t mean he doesn’t love his mother, but it’s more about the circumstances while playing professionally. While talent took Jennings to new heights, he also noted that unexpected serious injuries can end a career, and he should have been more careful.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t love my mom or I don’t appreciate her. It’s just that I think we get caught up in like, ‘When we get our first paycheck, we gotta give it to my family.’ But it’s like woah, you can get hurt next year, and then I made people comfortable early,” he said.

Regardless, Jennings had a great NBA career, playing for six teams. Having earned $40 million in NBA salary, he is now worth $16 million. And despite walking away from the NBA after nine years, he has managed to keep his net worth strong.