The Handle Podcast – Keith “Mister” Jennings: 11/30/18

By Reinis Lacis (@LamarMatic)

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East Tennessee State Buccaneers legend Keith “Mister” Jennings joined the program to talk about his almost 60-60-90 senior year, influence of Isiah Thomas and difficulties of making the NBA as a small guard. Having ultimately made the Golden State Warriors, Mister Jennings had some great stories to tell about coach Don Nelson‘s approach, the talent of those teams and his success in Europe later on.

Topics discussed in the podcast:

01:20 – The nickname of “Mister”, similarities to Isiah Thomas’s game, getting to play against him in his last year in the NBA and developing an acquaintance;
05:15 – Shooting 59.6% from the field, 59.2% from the 3-point land and 89.5% from the free throw line in his senior year with ETSU, becoming a consistent and efficient scorer, not getting drafted due to being a small guard;
11:50 – A 24-point, 7-assist per game season in Germany with Brand Hagen, a two-week long tour they had in the USA, Ed Gregory noticing him when he scored 42 points against USF, making the Golden State Warriors
15:05 – Making his first trip to Miami, John Salley welcoming him to the league and that good feeling leading him to a 22-point game against the Heat, Don Nelson wanting to start him against Muggsy Bogues when Mister Jennings had in fact already blown out his ACL;
19:35 – Having respect for Nellie, him playing Jennings and Tim Hardaway together at the 1 and the 2, $100 he earned for a task he performed against Shaquille O’Neal, the Warriors breaking up;
25:55 – The lockout shaping things in a way that he ended up with Estudiantes in Spain, Josh Grant later helping him land a spot with Le Mans where he first got to play for coach Alain Weisz and won the league’s MVP award;
32:50 – Fulfilling the goal of dunking an alley-oop, a friendship with Chris Gatling, Gregg Popovich’s approach of talking with players about other topics than basketball, Mister Jennings currently coaching the Lees–McRae women’s basketball team.