MILWAUKEE — Brandon Jennings believes NBA players don't know what they're getting themselves into by signing overseas during the lockout.

Jennings opted to play in Italy following high school rather than go the traditional college route. After spending one year with Lottomatica Roma and averaging 5.5 points and 2.2 assists in 17.0 minutes, Jennings entered the 2009 NBA draft and was picked by the Milwaukee Bucks.

"It's going to be a different lifestyle," Jennings said. "I don't think they know what they're in for — the lifestyle, the way they operate there. It's not about one player on the team. They don't care how many points you score a game. It's all about winning. Everything is as a team. You share a room with a teammate. You eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together. You fly commercial.

"It's not the NBA treatment that you think you're going to get. It's really a grind and if you're up for it, I feel anybody who can do Europe, you're pretty tough mentally."

Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets was the first NBA star to sign overseas after the lockout became official, agreeing to play in Turkey. Since then, other All-Star players such as Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade have flirted with the idea of playing internationally while the NBA and the Players Association work toward a new collective bargaining agreement.

But other than Williams, none of those elite players has actually signed.

"You don't want to go over there and then a month later you have to come right back," Jennings said. "The NFL got out of their lockout, and now the main thing is you just hope (the NBA lockout) doesn't last too long."

However, from what Jennings is being told, the upcoming NBA season may be in jeopardy.

"I hear it's not good," he said. "At the end of the day, nothing is moving."

Although Williams remains the lone All-Star to commit to a contract overseas, many NBA role players have signed with international teams. Nicolas Batum of the Portland Trail Blazers, originally from France, signed a deal in his home country. Former Laker and current Nets guard Jordan Farmar will play in Israel, and Farmar's NBA teammate Sasha Vujacic will play in Turkey. And there are others.

In a normal offseason, the NBA season would still be 21 months away. But as the days roll by without serious negotiations, playing a full 82-game schedule seems less and less likely.

"We're in the summertime right now," Jennings said. "But if it goes past September, that's when we have to get a little worried."