Tag: Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford endearingly compared Inside the NBA to a beloved sitcom like The Golden Girls with its future in flux

Jamal Crawford had the perfect comparison for why Inside the NBA is essential to the sport.

Former NBA star-turned-commentator Jamal Crawford gave a pretty effective argument for why the world can’t afford to lose Inside the NBA.

While appearing on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, Crawford discussed how popular the NBA program is, one that’s future is up in the air because of the league’s broadcasting rights potentially expiring with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Crawford compared Inside the NBA to a beloved sitcom, specifically mentioning the long-running classic The Golden Girls.

“They transcend sport. They’re almost like The Golden Girls,” Crawford told McAfee. “They got their own sitcom; they’re bigger than just the sport… We have to have them because they’ve been the backdrop and the soundtrack of basketball for the last 25-plus years.”

We’re not entirely sure what’s on the horizon for Inside the NBA, but Crawford is very much right. A world without one of the best sports broadcasts on television is a world we don’t want to see unfold.

Draymond Green sees Houston’s Tari Eason as next generation of himself

Jamal Crawford: “So, who do you think is the next generation of you, in the league right now?” Draymond Green: “Tari Eason. I love that kid.”

It isn’t yet clear when Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management) will return to the court for the Rockets. But when he has played in the 2023-24 NBA season, the second-year forward has left quite an impression, both in Houston and throughout the league.

In a newly released podcast interview, four-time NBA champion and future Hall of Famer Draymond Green was asked by former player Jamal Crawford if there were any younger players that could represent his style of play for the next generation of the league.

The Golden State Warriors star, long regarded for his commitment to defense, team play and leadership, quickly pointed to Eason.

Here’s how the exchange went:

Crawford: Do you see anybody else who can be the next generation of you, in the league right now?

Green: Tari Eason.

Crawford: You said that quick; you’ve thought about this.

Green: I love that kid, man. … From what I’ve seen from him, he can dribble the ball. He can shoot it OK, but you can get better at that.

Crawford: Crazy motor.

Green: He’s a good athlete. He’s not a crazy, freak athlete, but he’s a good athlete. Great length, great size, rebounds the ball. He’s not soft at all. He’s not backing down from nothing. Does the little things. … Now, you’ve got him in the right situation.

Crawford: He’s the one.

Green: I love his game, and I love what he brings to a team.

The complete Crawford-Green interview can be viewed below.

Eason, 22, is averaging 9.8 points (46.6% FG, 36% on 3-pointers) and 7 rebounds in 21.8 minutes this season, and he’s rapidly become one of the most trusted defenders for head coach Ime Udoka.

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Jamal Crawford hands down signature move to Victor Wembanyama

Former NBA guard Jamal Crawford recently blessed San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama with his signature move.

For all of the struggles the San Antonio Spurs have gone through, Victor Wembanyama has provided them with a constant bright spot. After a horrendous start to the season, they’ve been playing better as of late, but regardless of that, Wembanyama’s talent level has shone through at every turn.

Every time he steps onto the floor, Wembanyama is a constant threat to pull off a highlight-reel play. He’s taken over social media time and time again, and while a big part of it has been his wild physique, it’s also been about what he can do with the ball in his hands.

During a recent appearance on NBA on TNT, Wembanyama was asked by Jamal Crawford if he could pull off one of his signature, behind-the-back moves in a game. Wembanyama said that not only can he do the move, but it’s something he works on.

Crawford was impressed and went on to say that if he does it, he would teach Wembanyama the full version. (H/t Jay Postrado of Clutch Points)

“If you pull that out [the double behind the back shake-and-bake], I may have to show you the extended version,” Crawford said. “I have never shown that to anybody but I will hand that gift to you because you can do it. You will take it to the masses. Congrats, my brother.”

Having a guy like Wembanyama leading the way for the Spurs is a blessing. Not only for his talent and impact on winning, but for the constant exposure he’s going to bring to the team.

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Jamal Crawford offers thoughts on Chet Holmgren’s Rookie of the Year odds

Jamal Crawford thinks Chet Holmgren could challenge Victor Wembanyama for the award.

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The 2023-24 rookie class will be headlined by a pair of seven-footers who are hoping to become faces of their respective franchise.

Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama will likely battle for the Rookie of the Year award. While they’ll both be rookies, they weren’t drafted in the same year. Holmgren was the 2022 No. 2 pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder but missed the 2022-23 season due to a Lisfranc injury. Wembanyama was the 2023 No. 1 pick for the San Antonio Spurs.

Former NBA player Jamal Crawford offered his insight on the anticipated Rookie of the Year race. In an interview with reporter Landon Buford, Crawford said he wouldn’t necessarily bank on Wembanyama to run away with the award and mentioned Holmgren as someone who could be victorious.

“You got Chet Holmgren, who’s a rookie now, too, who may have even more opportunities,” Crawford said. “He’s had a chance to get stronger and watch the NBA game, so you know it’s gonna be a good year.”

Crawford and Holmgren share a unique history. The latter suffered his season-ending foot injury last year at the former’s Pro-Am in Seattle. Both players also share ties with Washington. Crawford hails from Seattle, and Holmgren spent his lone college season at Gonzaga.

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Three-time Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford gives Malcolm Brogdon the John Havlicek Trophy

Named for the ultimate sixth man — and a Boston legend — it is fitting that a Celtics player was the first to receive this recently renamed award.

Some people call him Humble Moses. Others, The President, Uncle Malcolm or even Mookie Dew. And while nobody that we are aware of calls him the Gangster of Love (or for that matter, Maurice), without a doubt we can all call Boston Celtics reserve floor general Malcolm Brogdon the NBA’s 2023 Sixth Man of the Year.

The onetime Virginia player was presented with the award at Atlanta’s TNT Studios with the Celtics in town to take on the Atlanta Hawks for their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series. Three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner Jamal Crawford presented Brogdon with the John Havlicek award.

Named for the ultimate sixth man — and a Boston legend — it is fitting a Celtics player was the first to receive the renamed award.

To see Brogdon’s (or should we say Brogdo?) big moment for yourself, check out the clip embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Jamal Crawford defends Russell Westbrook amid reports of tension

Despite reports that Russell Westbrook was difficult to deal with, Jamal Crawford had nothing but good things to say about the former Laker.

Shortly after being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2021, Russell Westbrook quickly became the recipient of criticism from fans.

He had trouble fitting in, and he was clearly not close to the player he had been a couple of years prior. Even though he temporarily started playing well earlier this season after being moved to the bench, it was only a matter of time before he regressed to something akin to the disappointing level of play he was at last season.

After Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz last Wednesday, a report in The Athletic detailed the tension that had built up between him and the rest of the team in his final days with the Lakers. In fact, a source close to the team compared his departure to removing “a vampire from the locker room.”

Former NBA player Jamal Crawford, a three-time Sixth Man of the Year, made it clear on social media that he had Westbrook’s back.

Westbrook may have been uncoachable at times, but in other ways, he is a good human being. One only needs to look at some of the work he has done off the court, especially for children and the Black community, to see how wholesome he is as a man.

None of that excuses him for his flaws as a basketball player or for being difficult to deal with at times for his teammates and coaches. But Westbrook is not the ogre some have made him out to be.

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Draymond Green blames himself for the Warriors’ struggles this season: ‘I’m not being myself’

“I have not been the leader that I am and that I need to be for this team.”

After winning the championship last season, the Golden State Warriors are not exactly returning with the same gusto so far in 2022-23.

The Warriors (22-22) are currently the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. But they are just one game ahead of the Trail Blazers, who possess the 11th-best record in the West and wouldn’t even make the play-in tournament if the season ended today.

Golden State has a negative point differential (-17) thus far and their defense has taken a significant step back. It is not entirely clear what is causing their championship hangover, but if you ask Warriors forward Draymond Green, he has a pretty good idea.

Green hosted longtime NBA guard Jamal Crawford on the latest episode of his podcast. Here is what Green had to say (via The Draymond Green Show):

“Our struggles this year hasn’t been because we not flicking a switch. … I think a lot of our shortcomings this year is my fault. Why is it my fault? Because I have not been the leader that I am and that I need to be for this team. And the reason I have not been that leader is also my fault. Right?”

The four-time NBA champion and former Defensive Player of the Year said his preseason altercation with Jordan Poole has caused some turmoil within the organization.

Although he was not suspended, the incident blew up into something much bigger than he had ever expected it would.

Green admitted that after stepping over the line with his teammate, he is now being more careful. However, Green says it also means he does not feel like he can be “himself” with his teammates.

More from The Draymond Green Show:

“I think we all know what happened with your young Wolverine brother, JP. And so for me, I’ve kind of had to walk a fine line of not really being Draymond. And when I’m not being myself, that’s not the best thing for this team. And so where we’ve struggled is accountability and accountability on the defensive end and accountability on the offensive end. You know the accountability it takes to have a winning team. That’s my role on this team and I’ve fell short in that area.” 

This is a good reminder that while Green’s problem with Poole is no longer in the news cycle, it may still have a lingering and long-lasting impact on the players.

Green, who recently admitted that he recorded a podcast after the altercation but decided never to publish it, clearly feels bad about what happened during the altercation.

But for the sake of the franchise, hopefully, they can move on so Green can feel more comfortable being himself as a leader both on and off the court.

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Jamal Crawford has questions about James Harden, Sixers for playoffs

Former NBA 6th Man Jamal Crawford has questions about James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers for the playoffs.

The Philadelphia 76ers picked up a 120-110 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night to improve to 3-0 on their West Coast road trip. Joel Embiid once again had a dominant night: 41 points on 12-for-22 shooting.

However, while Embiid flourished, James Harden had a tough night.

While Harden had nine assists in the win, he shot 1-for-6 from the floor and he was 0-for-4 from deep for six points. That will not get it done in the playoffs and Jamal Crawford has questions about The Beard for the playoffs.

Crawford on Harden after the game:

The thing that scares me about them is if (Tyrese) Maxey and Tobias Harris are your second leading guys, I’m not sure it’s gonna get you far in the playoffs. James Harden was brought there to be the second guy. I love point guard James Harden. I love how he passes the ball, but getting or five six shots in the playoffs? … Yeah, that’s not gonna get it done playoffs. I’m saying that respectfully.

The Sixers will definitely need more from Harden in order to go deep into the playoffs like they expect to, but the future Hall of Famer is human, at the end of the day. Nights like Tuesday are going to happen. He has been shooting the ball well recently and that is the Harden the Sixers will need in the postseason.

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Jamal Crawford got a hilarious popcorn bath to begin his NBA on TNT career

Popcorn, anyone?

The NBA on TNT crew got the popcorn popping to welcome Jamal Crawford to its Tuesday night lineup.

With the three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner joining Shaquille O’Neal, Candace Parker and Adam Lefkoe for the NBA’s Tuesday night slate, he got a very fun bit of new guy hazing.

While he was on set for a segment, Crawford found himself the victim of a popcorn dump for the ages.

He took it in stride as anyone does who gets pranked on the show, and he’ll no doubt find himself being pranked in the future. It’s part of what makes this show so enjoyable.

Well, that’s quite a welcome for the studio newbie. Crawford will be a great addition to the Tuesday night crew, and he’ll certainly be thinking of a way he can get the rest of his new co-workers back with a prank of his own.

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Jamal Crawford will reportedly join TNT’s NBA broadcasts, and he’s a perfect Dwyane Wade replacement

Jamal Crawford will work alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Candace Parker, and Adam Lefkoe.

Three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year guard Jamal Crawford is expected to join NBA on TNT’s Tuesday night broadcasts.

The news, which was first mentioned by league insider Marc Stein and then confirmed by New York Post’s Andrew Marchand, comes within weeks of the reports that 13-time All-Star guard Dwyane Wade would leave TNT.

Wade was a fixture on Turner’s broadcast since joining the network in 2019. But according to Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, Wade left the media space to focus on his other business ventures. Wade also owns a minority stake in the Utah Jazz.

Crawford, however, is a brilliant choice to replace Wade in the studio.

Crawford will replace Wade every Tuesday night for the NBA on TNT Postgame Show. He will work alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Candace Parker, and Adam Lefkoe.

Earlier this summer, Crawford spoke to For The Win about hosting his Pro-Am tournaments in Seattle:

“Anybody that knows me knows I hate asking anybody for anything. But I’ll ask the kids who they want to see and I’ll try to go get that person. I’ll ask the pros because it means more than just playing in a pick-up game or a scrimmage game. It gives these kids hope. If they can see you in person for free, that’s what it’s all about.”

Crawford last played in the NBA on Aug. 4, 2020. He retired in March 2022.

It is clear when listening to him speak that the 21-year NBA veteran is an incredibly knowledgeable basketball mind who should provide great insight on these broadcasts.

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