While many of the league’s future stars were proving themselves at the Orlando Summer League, Jabari Parker was lighting it up at the Chicago Pro-Am, Tony Wroten was putting up 53 at the Seattle Pro-Am, and Brandon Jennings was putting on a show at the Drew League, where he dropped a ridiculous 57 points to go with six boards and five assists.
Usually, when we post about players in pro-am leagues putting up gaudy numbers, we get a few people whining and saying those guys would never be able to do it in an NBA game. Well, on November 14, 2009, a rookie Brandon Jennings scored 55 points in an NBA game against Golden State’s backcourt of Monta Ellis and Steph Curry.
DOUBLE NICKEL IN 3 QUARTERS
STAT LINE: 55 PTS (21/34 FG, 7/8 3PT, 6/8 FT), 5 REB, 5 AST
The 55 broke the Bucks’ franchise record set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and was only three points away from Wilt’s record for most points ever scored by a rookie.
The most amazing thing about this game was that Jennings missed six of his first seven shots and was scoreless after the first quarter.
He went off for 29 in the third quarter and then took over late in the fourth. Down by one with a little more than three minutes left in regulation, Jennings knocked down four straight shots. Then, with a one-point lead with 10 seconds left, he grabbed a rebound, got fouled by Curry, and knocked down two clutch free throws.
Coach Scott Skiles congratulated his rookie by telling him, “Great game, get some rest tomorrow and say hello to Jason Kidd on Monday.’“
(Jennings had 25 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds against Kidd, who had 9/17/10 and the W)
Who was the first player to bust your ass?
Steph: “Kobe was the first but it didn’t really count because it was preseason. The second dude is Brandon Jennings. He had a double nickel against us.”
Most Points By An NBA Rookie
- 58: Wilt Chamberlain (x2)
- 57: Rick Barry
- 56: Earl Monroe
- 55: Elgin Baylor, Brandon Jennings, Wilt