At 40, Jamal Crawford is the oldest statesman in the NBA. But the big old man in the league is out to prove that he’s even bigger than old, that he has enough left in the tank to help a team win.
And after spending this season out of the game, when Crawford finally got the call to join the nets to restart the NBA in Orlando, a playoff shot made it a breeze. That possibility started seriously on Wednesday after removing the quarantine and practicing it for the first time.
“I talked about it with my family. My wife was like, you have to go do this. My son felt the same way, “Crawford said via Zoom, acknowledging the obvious concerns of the coronavirus.
“Nothing is 100 percent, [but if] we can stay as close as possible and maintain player safety first, it was a no-brainer for me. An opportunity to play in a team that is in the hunt for the playoffs, that is trying to improve with the vets outside, I feel that it would be a great situation for me and I was honored to have received the call. “
Crawford has finally received the call from a Nets team that is without eight players, including close friends Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
“I am excited to bring leadership, direction, score, whatever I am asked to do,” Crawford said. “Whatever I am asked to do, I try to do my best and help the team in the stretch race.”
Crawford has provided all of the above in a 19-year career, averaging 14.6 points per game. But despite last season’s hot end, last summer didn’t sign.
“I went through a series of emotions. I was frustrated in the beginning. I didn’t understand. I didn’t know what had happened, “Crawford said. “As far as the character is concerned, I just won the team mate of the year, so that part is solid.
“I was still able to demonstrate that I can play at a high level, so I didn’t understand it. … I was like, if God had said that your last game is a game 51 points off the bench, it’s a devil exit. … but I’m so happy to be back. “
In the last month of Crawford he averaged 31.3 points; in his last game, he lit up the Mavericks by 51.
His ability to get a bucket will help this worn-out list.
“He’s a guy who loves playing out of season,” said Jacque Vaughn’s interim coach. “He keeps himself really fit, whether it’s pro-am, pickups, hanging out with his kids. So some people only have the genetics to follow it. They are special humans and can still play at the age of 40 – or 20 times two, right? “
According to Crawford, that longevity comes from love.
“Fall in love with the game,” he said.
“When you’re in love with it, you’re willing to do whatever it takes: be it cold tubs or massages, acupuncture, changing your diet – which my wife did years ago even before I knew she changed it too, slipping in water and different things – but when you love the game purely … you are willing to sacrifice. I just love it, it’s the only reason I’m still playing. “
But how long will he play? As a friend of Durant and Irving, and one who can still score, could he get a place on the roster next year that the superteam type of stars studded with cheap vets needs?
“No. I haven’t thought about it,” said Crawford. “If you have plans, God will tell you, ‘It’s quite funny. Let me show you this. So for me I’m just trying to stay in the moment, not take anything for granted and really enjoy this process in which I am now. The future will be the future: but now I want to focus on what is in front of me. “
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