Pistons' Brandon Jennings eager to compete for job

Vince Ellis | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Brandon Jennings, on GR Drive debut: 'I was more nervous' Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings gave the basketball fans in Grand Rapids a show Saturday night. Video by Vince Ellis/DFP

The date of Brandon Jennings' return to the Detroit Pistons' lineup is unknown.

But Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy has made it clear that even when Jennings is available, he won't necessarily hand over the reins of the second unit to Jennings, who is close to a comeback from a ruptured left Achilles.

And one day after his first action in 11 months — Saturday night's Development League stint with the Pistons' affiliate in Grand Rapids — Jennings said he's cool with competition.

"If I've got to earn my second spot, then let's practice for it," Jennings said Sunday after practicing with the Pistons. "Let's go play for a spot. I'm with it. I'm up for it."

Quietly, veteran Steve Blake has played well since a poor start. When starting point guard Reggie Jackson was plagued by foul trouble in the first half of Friday night's four-overtime victory at Chicago, Blake did a great job keeping the team afloat.

He is shooting 38% from three-point range since a 1-for-11 start to the season. And the team has won eight of 11 games.

"I don't think at this point I would play him ahead of Steve," Van Gundy said.

Jennings scored 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting in the Grand Rapids Drive's 130-104 victory over the Iowa Energy. He added 12 assists and committed five turnovers in 27 minutes.

The Achilles tendon was sore, which was to be expected. But Jennings was ecstatic to see game action.

"I finally got all the nerves out," he said. "I was nervous as hell. Felt like my first game ever playing. Once I made my first shot and threw it off the backboard, I was like, all right — all the jitters are gone. I've still got to get better on the defensive end and things like that."

■Notes: Former Michigan State and Detroit Pershing center Derrick Nix is expected to join the Grand Rapids Drive this week. He worked out at the Pistons' practice facility and practiced with the Drive last week.

Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56 . Download our new Pistons Xtra app on iTunes or Android!

In the community

A few Pistons visited the Meijer in northwest Detroit to take 20 children from Yatooma's Foundation for Kids on a holiday shopping spree Sunday.