Brandon Jennings skipped across the court following the Milwaukee Bucks' stunning Game 5 victory in Atlanta, showing a bit of playoff swagger.
No, Young Buck did not get the NBA rookie of the year award on Thursday, an honor that instead went to Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans.
But given the choice, the 20-year-old Jennings would gladly take the playoff experience over the trophy.
And how about this?
If the Bucks are able to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 at a sold-out Bradley Center on Friday night, the Milwaukee point guard and his teammates will be in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Orlando Magic.
The Bucks lead the best-of-seven series with Atlanta, 3-2, and have a chance to win a post-season series for the first time since 2001.
"To win a playoff series is real motivation, because they said we couldn't do it as a team," Jennings said after practice Thursday. "If we get the game Friday, I'm sure everybody out there will be 'Fearing the Deer,' as they say."
Jennings had a remarkable rookie year while helping the Bucks reach the playoffs, a goal he talked about from the first day he joined the team.
But he has elevated his play against the Hawks and is averaging a team-leading 20.8 points in the first five games of the playoffs. He also has handed out 3.8 assists and grabbed 3.0 rebounds while shooting 44.8% from the field, 35.7% from three-point range and 84.2% at the free throw line.