Imagine missing an opportunity with your dream franchise because you couldn’t just mind your own business. That’s exactly the kind of disaster former NBA star Brandon Jennings faced when he was drafted into the league in 2010. However, as we know it Brandon Jennings was drafted into the league by the Milwaukee Bucks. And he started strong for the team with 15.5 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game in his rookie season. But the franchise he was hoping to land with? None other than the $7.5 billion New York Knicks.

Jennings recently opened up about it during his recent interview with VLAD TV. “That [Milwaukee] wasn’t where I wanted to go first.” But the original first destination? It was always the Knicks. “I wanted to go to the Knicks,” he said. So what took the dream of the ladder? Jennings’s lack of control. “But I ran my mouth too much during the workouts,” And whom did he call out? Oh, all reasons for the Knicks to keep him at bay then!

“Because I was calling out Ricky Rubio and I was saying why he wasn’t a part of these workouts that we were going in. I thought I was going to get picked by the Knicks because… It was my best workout during that time. And Dan Tony was the coach… But no, Milwaukee picked me at 10,” he recalled. Does Brandon Jennings regret what he faced? Not one bit. “I felt like that [Bucks] was the best, best thing for me,” he added on VLAD TV.

Well, the former NBA star had quite a career with the Bucks. Playing four seasons for the team, he averaged 17 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. However, his initial desire eventually came true as the 6 ft 1 guard would go on to play for the Knicks in 2016. His excitement, even then, was evident from his social media updates. “Can’t wait to play in the Mecca!! Excited to be joining such a historic franchise @NYKNICKS!!!” he wrote in a post on X (then Twitter). However, his happiness was short-lived as Jennings did not get to play even one full season in New York.

The idea for the franchise to sign Jennings was that he would try hard to revive his career and provide valuable backup minutes for the team in doing so. But his 8.6 points and 4.9 assists per game in 24.6 minutes for the team said otherwise. The franchise, pondering on its future roster, decided to move ahead without Jennings. This probably could have been the reason that, despite his initial desire for the Knicks, Jennings considers his Bucks phase the dearest. Well, there is no denying he did have something unique to show from his Bucks era.

Brandon Jennings has a unique record in NBA history to his name

Jennings may not have had the longest NBA career, but he sure made one heck of an entrance. Over nine seasons, the electric point guard played for the Bucks (twice), Pistons, Magic, Knicks, and Wizards, wrapping up his pro journey with Russia’s Zenit St. Petersburg in 2018.

But let’s rewind to the start — Jennings didn’t just arrive in the league; he burst onto the scene. In only his seventh NBA game, he exploded for 55 points against the Golden State Warriors on November 14, 2009. That performance didn’t just turn heads — it made history. At just 20 years and 52 days old, he became the fastest player ever to crack the 50-point mark, beating out names like LeBron James, Devin Booker, and even Victor Wembanyama.

So, what happened after such a hot start? According to a talkSport article, Jennings once admitted that constant requests for money from family and friends played a big role in his decision to walk away from basketball. Despite earning nearly $40 million, the pressure wore him down.

He once said basketball was his escape and therapy, but when it turned into a job, those around him began treating him like a cash machine. Still, he lived out his dream of playing for the Knicks — however short it was. All said and done, that’s a journey worth applauding.