"Brandon Jennings wasn't holding anything back on the Milwaukee Bucks' opening day of practice.

The second-year point guard was diving on the floor, leaping to snag back-to-back defensive rebounds during a half-court rebounding drill and screaming encouragement to his new teammates.

If the 21-year-old had any questions about his ability to make it on the NBA stage, they clearly were erased during his standout rookie season.

"I'm just trying to get the guys alive and get them going," Jennings said of his exuberance as the Bucks opened training camp at the Cousins Center. "We're trying to do some big things this year, so everybody has got to be on the same agenda."

Jennings started in all 89 games, including seven playoff games, while earning first-team NBA all-rookie honors last season. And he was much prouder of reaching the playoffs than he was of his 55-point outburst in the seventh game of the regular season when the Bucks faced Golden State.

That effort stood up as the highest individual scoring night in the league last season.

"Hopefully he can get 55 while I'm on the team," said Bucks forward Corey Maggette, who was with Golden State and on the receiving end of Jennings' huge night in November. "He still has a lot to learn, but he's a special player."

Bucks coach Scott Skiles knows he has a game-changer in Jennings but also a player willing to work and eager to improve.

"He needs to be able to shoot a better percentage, and we believe he will," Skiles said. "And you can be 28 years old and still run a team better. That's something as a point guard that's always a work in progress.

"He went from being a not very good defender early in the season to being a pretty good defender, and he can take another step there. It's certainly not for lack of will. He likes to play defense and use his hands. And he can improve on overall decisions and things that come with experience."

Skiles had veteran Luke Ridnour in reserve when Jennings faltered last season, and it was a role that Ridnour embraced. But Ridnour moved on to sign a free-agent deal with Minnesota."