Commentary

The Italian job

The Bucks' pick looked risky in June. Now all it look like is a steal

Updated: November 19, 2009, 9:07 AM ET

By Chris Broussard | ESPN The Magazine

This article appears in the November 30 issue of ESPN The Magazine.

Just in case Brandon Jennings didn't know -- and he didn't -- Scott Skiles wanted him to recognize whom he would be dealing with. "Do you know who holds the NBA record for most assists in a game?" the Bucks coach asked his new point guard after the team made Jennings the 10th pick in last summer's draft. "Uh, John Stockton?" the rookie guessed. "No," said Skiles. "I do." (It's true: Skiles had 30 for the Magic in 1990.)

Jennings may never sniff that mark, but he isn't wasting any time letting the league know whom it has to deal with now. And much like the rook's whiff of Skiles' pop quiz, no one saw this coming.

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