National Basketball Association

New York Knicks: New Teammates Love Brandon Jennings

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Brandon Jennings has made quite the first impression on his new teammates. Kristaps Porzingis and the New York Knicks are already fans.

The 2016-17 New York Knicks are essentially a trial run. The frontcourt is locked up for the long-term, but the starting and backup point guards will both become free agents following the 2016-17 season.

The backup, Brandon Jennings, has already won his teammates over.

Jennings will fill the role of the sixth man for the Knicks in 2016-17. Jackson has challenged Jennings to go out and win Sixth Man of the Year, but the main goal will be providing stability on offense as a facilitator.

With a huge grin across his face, future franchise player Kristaps Porzingis expressed how much the Knicks already love Jennings.

For those who can’t see the video, Porzingis’ comments were as follows:

“I mean, he had a great game. Those passes, everybody loves him. I love to be on the receiving end, but I think the fans love him and the swagger that he has brings a lot of energy to the team and to the crowd.”

You can tell how authentic Porzingis’ feelings about Jennings are by just watching him speak.

Jennings, 27, has started 416 of the 460 regular season games that he’s played since entering the NBA in 2009. He started all but three games prior to the 2015-16 campaign, when he came off the bench in 41 of a possible 48 appearances.

It’s critical to note that those were Jennings’ first 48 games since rupturing his achilles tendon in January of 2015.

Jennings enters 2016-17 with career averages of 15.5 points, 5.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.8 3-point field goals made per game. He’s struggled with his overall efficiency as a scorer, but he’s a high-quality facilitator and shooter.

Jennings has a career 3-point field goal percentage of .350 and a career assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.57.

In New York, Jennings will be tasked with pushing the pace, spacing the floor and facilitating the offense. Those are three areas in which he’s traditionally excelled, and his legs appear to be back under him after a much-needed full offseason.

Porzingis and the Knicks already love having Jennings on the roster.

Knicks fans are beginning to feel the same.