Jamal Crawford always loved taking advice from older players because he knew their wisdom was a precious asset due to their experience in the NBA. A big-time role model for Jamal is the legendary Michael Jordan.
J-Crossover got great advice when playing for the Chicago Bulls in the early years of his career. At that time, Jordan was freshly retired from the Bulls and before playing for the Washington Wizards. It meant Jamal played many pick-up games with MJ, who had valuable knowledge for the youngster.
“Michael Jordan, when I was working out with him in Chicago. He said, ‘A lot of people that come with the game but don’t actually love the game,’ and that stuck with me,” Crawford said on The Big Podcast with Shaq. “Everything else comes from the game. No matter what you do after that, comes from what you provide on the court and what you bring. That stuck with me forever.”
Jamal was a consummate professional
Crawford had superb longevity during his NBA career, as he was drafted in 2020 and played until 2020. It was a fantastic career because it lasted for two decades, and he was a superb sixth man for most of his career
It was a tremendous career that quietly ended, but the previous two decades were a fun time for basketball fans and Crawford himself. He played for nine teams and impacted every team except for his one-game stint with Brooklyn.
Everyone loved playing with Jamal, as evidenced by his Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award in 2018. Back in 2016, Austin Rivers had nothing but nice things to say about Crawford, given the latter’s mentorship over the former Duke Blue Devil.
“He’s the best teammate I’ve ever had, man,” Rivers said in 2016. “A lot of people doubted me when I came to L.A. a year ago. People thought I was just getting a chance because of my father. Jamal believed in me, man.”
Jamal truly loved playing basketball
What can never counted out about Jamal was his love for basketball. He kept playing until he was 40, showcasing his longevity and love for the game. Jamal lived up to what MJ said to him, as he loved the game and found it hard to step away from the sport, as he officially announced his retirement in 2022 when he was already 42.
To this day, Jamal is still hooping in his native Seattle, Washington. That’s a good showcase of him doing what he loves because J-Crossover is a legend around his hometown. He hosts summer tournaments with many NBA players participating, as they want to interact with Jamal and have fun in a basketball city like Seattle.