Pistons' Jennings says he's OK with coming off bench

Don't expect a point guard controversy when Brandon Jennings returns to the Detroit Pistons this year.

Three weeks after Jennings' second season in Detroit ended Jan. 25 after he suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon, the Pistons acquired Reggie Jackson in a trade. Then they signed Jackson to a five-year, $80-contract this summer.

"Bringing in Reggie Jackson was smart," Jennings said. "I'm supposed to be out, really, for nine months, and they need a point guard. ...

"My main thing is just to get healthy. Hey, if I have to come off the bench and be the sixth man or whatever, I'm fine with that. Man, I just want to play basketball again. I just want to get back on the court and have fun."

Jennings made his comments on "The Point Game Podcast," hosted by the Comcast SportsNet's Jabari Young and Vincent Goodwill.

As much as he misses basketball — "I don't take anything for granted anymore," Jennings said — he's not rushing his rehab process from the serious injury and ensuing surgery.

"Basically, I'm just taking my time," Jennings said. "I'm going to come back when I'm ready. ...

"I don't know if I'll be ready for training camp. I don't know for sure. But I'm definitely going to take my time through training camp and also through the preseason. I probably won't be back to myself until at least around December. That's a for sure.

"You know, I haven't played in seven months."

But even as he's been physically limited in preparing his game for a comeback, he's also been getting mentally ready.

"I actually had time to sit back, and I really started studying other players' games," Jennings said. "I got this highlight tape on Kenny Anderson, Tim Hardaway, and I've been studying a lot on James Harden lately, how he just gets to the free throw line easily."

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Contact Steve Schrader: sschrader@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @schradz.