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Jennings: Non-Knicks players 'don't mean nothing to me'

Adam Hunger / USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Jennings treats every NBA game like a war with the opposing team, and during a war, one shouldn't be inclined to help adversaries when they're down and out.

During Wednesday's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks point guard pulled teammate Guillermo Hernangomez away when the 22-year-old Spaniard attempted to offer a hand to a fallen Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

"When we’re between the lines and you have a New York Knicks jersey on, I think that’s all we should be worried about," Jennings said following his team's Thursday practice, according to News Day's Barbara Barker. "I mean, would they help us up? I wouldn’t want another opponent to help me up. That’s just showing too much respect."

"In between the lines, you don’t have a New York jersey on, then you don’t mean nothing to me."

Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek is completely on board with Jennings' mentality, as it helps gives his roster a level of toughness that's very much welcome.

"I kinda like what Brandon did," Hornacek said. "He’s feisty. You’ve got to play with emotion. You’ve got to play with that mentality that ‘hey, I have to do whatever I can to win.’ Whatever a player feels that is, that’s good. You want guys who want to win."

As a rookie, Hernangomez perhaps felt inclined to show respect and extend his hand, but as Jennings and center Joakim Noah informed him after the game, competing with a little bit of an edge will go a long way toward his fellow Knicks and players around the league taking him more seriously.

"I think he got (the point). He’s gonna be in this league a long time," Jennings said of Hernangomez. "The meaner you are between the lines, the more respect you get from your teammates"

Jennings ended the night with three points and 11 assists in 26 minutes of action off the bench as the Knicks rode a strong second half to a 110-96 victory, improving to 3-4 on the season.

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