AUBURN HILLS - Brandon Jennings has been one of the driving forces behind the Detroit Pistons' surge into playoff contention with nine victories in their last 10 games entering tonight's matchup against New Orleans at The Palace.

Jennings' pro career began in an unusual manner as he skipped college to play one year in Italy before becoming eligible for the NBA, where he promptly scored 55 points for the Milwaukee Bucks barely two weeks into his rookie season.

In a Q&A with MLive, Jennings discussed living in Italy, that 55-point game, his desire to play the piano and his (silver screen) girlfriend Halle Berry.

MLive: Other than basketball, what was the coolest part about playing in Italy that year?

Jennings: Just being able to travel, going to other countries. At that time, I was still only 18 so to be able to able to go to the Spanish Steps, go to the Coliseum. I did my first national commercial ever in Italy. So it was dope.

MLive: What was the coolest sight you saw?

Jennings: The Coliseum. I was out there all day with Under Armor doing a commercial so I was just soaking all that in.

MLive: Do you have any funny stories about the language? Did you have any problems with that?

Jennings: Yeah, at first I did. But once I found out that my coach was cussing me out every day using a certain language, I found it funny. Gigi (Datome) was over there with me on the same team so Gigi knew a little English and Allan Ray was over there with me. He went to Villanova. So it was all right.

MLive: Maybe it was a good thing you didn't understand what you coach was saying?

Jennings: I found out later (Laughs.)

MLive: What do you remember most about that 55-point game?

Jennings: The fact that I didn't score in the first quarter. I didn't realize that until maybe a couple weeks after that. I came out of the game in the first quarter. I didn't have any points and I ended up having 10 points at halftime. That was the craziest thing.

MLive: That was your seventh game. Did you think to yourself, "Boy, this is pretty easy"?

Jennings: I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I knew a lot of pressure was going to be on me after that 55 game because I scored 55 and I knew everybody was going to expect me to go for 50 every game. I was like, let's be realistic, it's the NBA. You don't see guys scoring 50 every night in the NBA.

MLive: Who is the best dresser on the team?

Jennings: I would probably have to say Caron (Butler). Caron is real sharp. He brings it all the time.

MLive: Who is the worst dresser?

Jennings: Gigi and Jodie (Meeks). They're just terrible!

MLive: Other than The Palace, what's your favorite arena to play in?

Jennings: The Garden.

MLive: How come? Just because it's New York?

Jennings: New York, the atmosphere. You can feel the energy in there every night. The history.

MLive: What's your favorite NBA city?

Jennings: Favorite NBA city would have to be Toronto. Toronto is one of the best NBA cities to go to. Outside of basketball they have everything there.

MLive: If you weren't playing basketball what do you think you'd be doing?

Jennings: I'd be playing the piano or an R&B singer.

MLive: So you play the piano?

Jennings: No. I want to learn. I'm trying to learn now in the summer.

MLive: If they made a movie about your life, who would star in it?

Jennings: If they made a movie about my life who would star in it? Denzel Washington would probably be a person that stars in it. My girlfriend in the movie would probably be Halle Berry. And who would be me? I'll just play myself.

MLive: Twenty years from now, what do you see yourself doing?

Jennings: I see myself retired, becoming a businessman, making money outside of basketball and just living. I just want to be left alone, chilling. Smoking my cigars and just chilling.

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