One week down for Bucks rookies Jennings, Meeks

Paul Imig Posted: Oct. 5, 2009

St. Francis – More than three months after being selected in the 2009 NBA Draft, Milwaukee Bucks rookies Brandon Jennings and Jodie Meeks got their first taste of training camp this week.

After consecutive two-a-days on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Bucks practiced once on Thursday and once on Friday as the team prepared for their pre-season opener in Minnesota.

“It’s been a tough week,” Jennings said. “The first two days killed me. I tried to pick it up a little bit at the end, but it’s a whole lot going on. The first two nights, right when I got home I was done. I didn’t wake up at all until the next day. So it’s real tiring, but I’ve just got to keep going.”

Meeks, selected 41^st overall in June’s Draft, is fine with the busy practice schedule.

“They (two-a-day practices) were tough, but that’s what you want,” Meeks said. “I’m always in for hard work to try and get better. Obviously it’s tough, it’s training camp, but I’m just trying to learn as much as I can from the coaching staff and the veterans and try to get in the rotation.”

While Meeks is trying to earn minutes at a crowded shooting guard position with veterans Michael Redd and Charlie Bell, Jennings has an opportunity to start at point guard this season, but is willing to wait his turn if Coach Scott Skiles decides to go with Luke Ridnour.

“If I’m not the guy right away that’s fine with me,” Jennings said. “It’s still a learning experience for me. This week (Ridnour) was doing well, so if he starts I wouldn’t be surprised.”

With Skiles saying earlier in the week that the starting point guard position was still to be determined, Jennings is ready for the competition.

“We still get to battle,” Jennings said. “We still got four more weeks until the first game, so we’ll see in four weeks. But right now, if I don’t start I’m fine with that. (Ridnour) is better than what people think. I know a lot of people probably get on him a lot, but he’s really good, especially in the open court.”

After the success that 2008 second round pick Luc Richard Mbah a Moute had last season, Meeks is doing what he can in training camp to prepare for his rookie year.

“Play smart and play tough,” Meeks said about his goals for training camp. “Try to limit my mistakes, because I’m a rookie and I don’t know a lot about the NBA game, so I’m just trying to do as much as I can. I was coming in with no high expectations and trying to come in and work hard.”

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One week down for Bucks rookies Jennings, Meeks