Free agent point guard Brandon Jennings has signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million to sign a deal overseas with China Shanxi, reports ESPN’s Marc Spears:
NBA free agent guard Brandon Jennings tells The Undefeated he has accepted a one-year, $1.5 million deal to play for China Shanxi. Jennings hopes to return to the NBA after his season in China concludes.
This is an interesting move given that Jennings still hopes to play in the NBA next year. Typically, when a player opts to go overseas instead of sign in the NBA, it’s because of money. Jennings, however, is leaving money on the table. The minimum contract for a player with his experience would have netted him $2.1 million.
Jennings, though, is exactly the sort of player who goes to China and absolutely dominates the game against inferior competition.
Jennings spent 58 games with the Knicks this season (averaging 8.6 points and 4.9 assists per game on 38 percent shooting) and 23 games with the Wizards (averaged 3.5 points and 4.7 assists per game on 27.4 percent shooting).
Jennings will probably average north of 50 points per game in China next season, but in the NBA, the market for him isn’t great. He’s an OK playmaker and an inefficient scorer who doesn’t play much defense.
