Detroit Pistons Guard Brandon Jennings Assigned To Grand Rapids Drive Of NBA D-League
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that guard Brandon Jennings has been assigned to the team's NBA Development League (D-League) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive. Jennings, who is continuing his rehabilitation process, will see his first game action on Saturday, December 19 vs. the Iowa Energy.
The six-year NBA veteran missed 41 games last season and has not played this season after suffering a ruptured left Achilles tendon at Milwaukee on January 24, 2015. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound guard was acquired in a trade from Milwaukee on July 31, 2013 and has averaged 15.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 121 games with Detroit.
"This is a great example of the many benefits our D-League team offers, supporting Tom Gores' vision to push for a hybrid affiliation with the Grand Rapids Drive," said Jeff Bower, general manager of the Detroit Pistons. "It gives Brandon an opportunity to go play in a game, work on his conditioning and compete in a similar system that's being run by Otis Smith and his staff."
Jennings will join Festus Ezeli of the Golden State Warriors as one of the most notable NBA players to play in a D-League game on a rehab assignment to date. Ezeli played in two games with the Santa Cruz Warriors in late January 2015 after missing 16 games due to sprained left ankle. He returned to help the Warriors win the 2015 NBA Championship. Other prominent NBA players who practiced with D-League teams, but did not play, while on rehab assignments include Rajon Rondo, Amar'e Stoudemire, Kawhi Leonard and Carl Landry.
About NBA D-League Assignments
• The NBA/NBA D-League assignment system, which began prior to the 2005-06 season, allows NBA teams to assign players to play for their NBA D-League affiliate during the NBA D-League preseason, regular season, and postseason.
• Players in the first three seasons of their NBA careers are eligible to be assigned to the NBA D-League at any time. Players beyond the first three years of their careers are eligible to be assigned to the NBA D-League with both their consent and the consent of the NBA Players Association, a rule which began prior to the 2011-12 season.
• There is no limit on the length of time an assigned player may spend in the NBA D-League.
• The 10 independent NBA teams can assign players to the NBA D-League using the Flexible Assignment System, which allows all 19 NBA D-League teams to voluntarily accept an NBA player on assignment. Should no team express interest in accepting the assignment of the player, the player will be assigned pursuant to a lottery of the hybrid NBA D-League teams.
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