New York Knicks: Brandon Jennings Will Win Sixth Man Of The Year
1. Something To Prove
There’s no player more dangerous in professional sports than one who has something to prove. In the case of Brandon Jennings, he’s a career starter who was signed to a one-year prove-it deal worth $5 million to be a sixth man.
Jennings isn’t just out to prove that the New York Knicks should re-sign him come 2017; he’s out to prove that he deserves a contract from any of the 30 NBA teams.
Jennings ruptured his achilles tendon in the midst of what was shaping up to be a career-year in 2014-15. For perspective, he was injured just one game after recording 24 points and 21 in assists in just 33 minutes against the Orlando Magic.
Jennings recently told Anthony Donahue of The 33rd And 7th” podcast that he’s hungrier than he’s ever been (h/t Ian Begley of ESPN New York).
"“I’m as hungry as I’ve ever been now. I’m on a one-year deal. I’m coming off an Achilles injury, everybody [wrote] me off. So right now I’m hungry, I’m more hungry than ever,” Jennings said."
That alone is reason to believe he’ll put forth an award-worthy effort in 2016-17.
Jennings isn’t some mediocre NBA player who’s attempting to come back from injury; he was closing in on an All-Star Game appearance as recently as 2014-15. He’d led Detroit to a 12-3 record over the 15 games prior to his injury, and was playing at a star-caliber level.
Even with obvious rust in 2015-16, Jennings had a double-double and three 20-point games in 48 rehabilitative regular season appearances.
Most encouraging of all is the fact that Jennings will enter the 2016-17 season at 27 years of age, which implies he still has his prime years ahead of him.
It’s entirely possible that the achilles injury he suffered will limit him in some ways on the court. He’s already played 48 regular season games since the injury, however, and should shake the rest of the rust off with an offseason to train.
That luxury wasn’t afforded to him entering 2015-16.
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With a hunger for greatness, a dynamic skill set, a coach who knows how to utilize his skills, and a team president who believes in him, Jennings can win Sixth Man of the Year in 2016-17.