Jamal Crawford already in ‘love’ with Nets organization

Each of the players the Brooklyn Nets acquired ahead of the NBA’s restart has something to prove in the Disney bubble. But there are two who Brooklyn may look at a little more closely as they prepare for the return of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in 2020-21.

One is Tyler Johnson, who scored 17 points in the Brooklyn Nets’ scrimmage against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

The other is Jamal Crawford, who has yet to make his first appearance in a Brooklyn uniform. But the veteran guard has gotten in work with his new teammates. So, he has a feel for how things are run — to the point where Crawford already told Howard Beck on the “Full 48” podcast he’s in “love with the organization”:

It’s a fun group. I look forward [to] every single day getting to the gym with these guys. I love to be around them, their staff, everything. It seems like I’ve been here longer than a week. I love the organization, I love how they have everything set up. A cool place to be.

Jamal Crawford’s #NBABubble tour ⤵️@BrooklynNets’ @JCrossover is locked in and looking at the bubble as a business trip. Here’s a look at team practice, the players’ lounge, and more from Orlando pic.twitter.com/8pTE5CoG4X

— The Boardroom (@boardroom) July 25, 2020

As much as he already knows how he feels about the organization, and would like to continue playing beyond the bubble, Crawford isn’t getting ahead of himself. He’s trying to stay in the here-and-now:

I don’t want to look too far ahead. And, my approach, I don’t want to come out and say, ‘Hey, I’m going [to] try and score 50 a game just to prove to you guys I should be in the league,’ either. I just wanna enjoy the moment; whatever it calls for. I don’t want to come in with an agenda like, ‘Hey, I’m going to score 40 every night,’ and I don’t wanna say, ‘Hey, I’m just going to come in just do the leadership thing,’ either, or whatever. I want to do whatever’s called upon, whatever’s needed in these next however many months we’re together. And that’s my only approach.

Class with Mal is back in session 📚@JCrossover 👨‍🏫 @RODIONS1 pic.twitter.com/wEyDw6pzCD

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) July 24, 2020

Crawford’s next chance to make his Nets debut comes on Monday when Brooklyn faces the Utah Jazz at 5:30 p.m.