Q&A: Brandon Jennings

Courtesy of Slam

SLAM: How do you put what’s happened so far this season behind you, and focus on moving forward?

Brandon Jennings: We definitely just have to take it one game at a time right now. With the way the East is shaking up, we still have a chance to make the Playoffs. So that’s our main goal. But we just want to take it one game at a time, and just play hard every night.

SLAM: Is that your message to your teammates right now—that the East is so wide open, the postseason is still a possibility if you can continue to improve?    

Jennings: Yeah, I mean especially in the East. If you win six or seven in a row, you could be looking at seventh place or the eighth place right now. So that’s where our mindset is. But like I said, we’re just taking it one game at a time. We’re still in the hunt. We’re not tanking or anything like that. We’re going to compete to the end.

SLAM: Is this a moment in your career you feel better prepared to handle after everything you’ve seen and done in the League? Are you even more of a leader now with Josh Smith leaving?

Jennings: Things happen in this League. My rookie year, I made the Playoffs. So it was a little easier. I was on a team with veterans like Kurt Thomas, Jerry Stackhouse, Andrew Bogut—guys who’d already been in the League. So, this is definitely a challenge, the fact that I’m kind of like the leader now. And now I have to lead my team, every day. Come in with a positive attitude, not just trying to take over games by scoring, but just making sure that everyone is happy on the team and everyone’s good.

SLAM: You’re starting one of the youngest lineups in the League against LeBron James, Kevin Love and the Cavaliers. How do you plan to approach games vs. teams like the Cavs?  

Jennings: We’re definitely going to have to play harder. We are going to have to play harder than them, and we’re going to have to take on the challenge. When they make runs, we can’t get down or give up. We just have to keep fighting and keep pushing.