Latest news with #JamalCrawford
Yahoo
4 days ago
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Jamal Crawford says his highest-scoring game happened because Kobe Bryant watched him courtside: "I got to go crazy"
Jamal Crawford says his highest-scoring game happened because Kobe Bryant watched him courtside: "I got to go crazy" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Jamal Crawford was one of the greatest walking buckets to ever play in the NBA. He is the oldest player in NBA history to score 50 points. He is also the only player in league history to score 50 points with four different teams. Jamal's NBA career-high in points scored was 52 points, which he achieved on January 26, 2007, against the Miami Heat while he was playing for the New York Knicks. But that was not his highest-scoring game ever. That big night happened in the summer of 2014 at his own CrawsOver Pro-Am League in Seattle. And he says it happened because he had a special guest watching on the sidelines - Kobe Bryant. "That was my highest-scoring game ever since we rebranded the Pro-Am," said Crawford during his recent appearance on Austin Rivers' "Eye for the Game" podcast. "And it only happened cuz he was there. And there's a spirit of like, 'I gotta be special.' I got to go crazy, so 63 and the game-winner." Kobe canceled an appointment to watch Jamal play In another interview, Crawford talked about how he bumped into Kobe in a celebrity softball game in Seattle. That same night, he had a game in the Seattle Pro-Am league, which he bought and rebranded as the CrawsOver Pro-Am. So he thought of inviting Bryant to come over, although he wasn't sure Kobe would say yes. Crawford said that when he asked Bryant, the only question that the Lakers guard asked was if he would play. When Jamal said yes, Kobe told him he was coming. As the story goes, Bryant was supposed to fly back to Los Angeles that night because he had an appointment for Nike. But he told the Nike rep to move his schedule because he was going to watch Jamal play. And since he was in Seattle with the entire family, Kobe took Vanessa and his girls to Jamal's game. "Other people were at the game. Gary Payton is there. There are a bunch of people are at the game. But it was Kobe. It was Kobe. He walks out on the court like Michael Jackson. My sister's like, 'Man, look at him,' Just shining, bro. I'm like, 'Oh my God,' he balled out with Kobe watching Before Kobe entered the gym, it was Jamal himself who introduced his special guest to the full house crowd that was in attendance. And Crawford went on to call Kobe "this generation's Michael Jordan and one of our favorites players ever" before the Black Mamba made his grand entrance, to the loud cheers of the crowd who chanted his name. With Kobe and GP watching the game, Crawford literally put on a show. After scoring 22 in the first two-quarters of play, he erupted for 41 in the second half, including the game-winning three-point basket at the buzzer. The score was 115-114 with 6.3 seconds left and Crawford's team trailing by a solitary point. They got the ball in Jamal's hands, and with time winding down, he pulled up from the parking lot and nonchalantly drilled a long three-pointer to give his team a dramatic win. More than his greatest scoring game, Crawford also said that he and Bryant started to build a friendship because of that day. A year after that, Jamal said Kobe reached out to him to ask for full details on his quickness, agility and recovery drills. Of course, he obliged, not only to repay a favor, but it was an honor for him to do story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
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Hill: Flagg in a 'great spot' under Kidd in Dallas
Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Grant Hill joins the Dan Patrick Show to share what advice he would give to No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, his "nice guy" persona, why Jamal Crawford is one of his favorite players and more.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grant Hill puts Jamal Crawford in a special category: "He's your favorite player's favorite player"
Grant Hill puts Jamal Crawford in a special category: "He's your favorite player's favorite player" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Grant Hill can't hide his admiration for Jamal Crawford. As someone who's played with and against the game's elite, Hill has a sharp eye for what makes a player different. According to the Hall of Fame forward, Crawford fits the bill. Advertisement "Jamal is one of my favorites and he knows it. He's one of my favorite players," Hill told Dan Patrick on "The Dan Patrick Show." "I always say Jamal's your favorite player's favorite player. He's that guy. He's that guy that KD, LeBron, Steph, I mean, guys like that. They see him and like, 'Man, he is just unreal.'" Student of the game Crawford earned the respect of his peers — Hill included — because of his unreal handles and smooth jumper. Despite not having an All-Star appearance in his resumè, the legendary guard won the Sixth Man of the Year award three times, establishing himself as one of the best off-the-bench players in the history of the NBA. That said, Crawford did not develop his skills overnight. Hill watched him study basketball religiously and recalled Crawford asking him about specific plays in games that happened years ago. Advertisement "We played together my last year in the Clippers," Hill recalled, "and we sat together on the plane. This guy was studying basketball. He would go and look at clips on YouTube and talk about games I played in the '90s and certain moves that I did." "We talked about, well, he liked to go left pulling up. He's like, 'You know what? You inspired me. I got to work on going right.' He's in his prime at the time… He's a basketball junkie," the Hall of Famer added. According to Hill, Crawford's skill is a product of his dedication to his craft and attention to detail. While it looks like he was showboating, every move was deliberate, built on hours of film study and a sharp sense of timing and spacing. Related: CJ McCollum explains the difference between a good and a great NBA player: "I've seen LeBron ice in the club" Crawford's three 50-point games Coming off the bench helped sharpen Crawford's knack for instant offense. He holds the record for the most 50-point games as a reserve with three, doing it with the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns. He also had a 50-point display with the Chicago Bulls in 2004, though that one came as a starter against the Toronto Raptors. Advertisement However, doing it at Madison Square Garden gave Crawford's career-high of 52 points extra weight. The numbers were impressive, but the venue made it unforgettable. "You know how you score 17 straight points? He hit 17 buckets in a row!" said an impressed Dwyane Wade, whose Miami Heat was on the wrong end of Crawford's scoring outburst. "Consecutive buckets in the Garden! That was crazy." Crawford made every shot from early in the first quarter until the third. His 18-footer at the 2:17 mark of the third quarter was his first miss since the five-minute mark of the opening period. "I didn't look at anybody. I just stayed in my own zone," said Jamal. Advertisement Crawford may never have had the accolades of a superstar, but his peers knew what he brought. The NBA doesn't hand out respect easily, but Jamal earned it from those who understood the grind. Related: "I am so excited to see what he can do" - Grant Hill believes Cooper Flagg couldn't be in a better spot to thrive as a No. 1 pick This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jamal Crawford on Isiah Thomas benching him early in 52-point game at MSG: "I would have got 65, easy"
Jamal Crawford on Isiah Thomas benching him early in 52-point game at MSG: "I would have got 65, easy" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Jamal Crawford had 52 points against the Miami Heat in 2007, including a stretch of 16 straight made shots. Yet with nearly seven minutes still on the clock, New York Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas pulled him out for good. Advertisement Why did Thomas cut his career night short? According to Crawford, he had a noble reason for doing so. "Well, I know why he took me out," Crawford told KnicksFanTV. "He took me out because, I think, when you go back, the brawl happened with Denver earlier that season. Isiah just had a respect for the game that when they took out their best player, we're taking out you." "So, I came out when (Dwyane) Wade came out. When they took Wade out, it's time for you to come out. He's always big on respecting the game and not getting to the personal part of it," he added. Crawford couldn't get any hotter Jason Kapono replaced Dwyane Wade at the 7:08 mark of the final quarter. Seconds later, Thomas sent Mardy Collins to check in for Crawford, who scored his last basket to put the Knicks up 110-85. Advertisement The Denver-New York brawl did happen earlier that season, a month before Crawford's 52-point explosion. The fight reportedly happened because the Nuggets' coach, George Karl, left J.R. Smith and his starters on the floor when the game had already been decided. Perhaps, Thomas didn't want to make the same mistake. Still, one can't help but wonder what could've been if he had left Crawford on the floor longer. The retired guard, though, knows he would've made that night even more historic. "I do personally remember that was the hottest night of my life. CP, I'm gonna be honest with you, because I came out with seven minutes left. If I stayed in that game and I played the whole time, I think I would have got 65, easy. Easy and not even forcing that," Crawford said with a straight face. The Knicks guard hit 20 out of his 30 shots and drilled eight 3-pointers on 10 attempts. It's also safe to assume his teammates would've fed him the ball had he stayed on the court. That makes the 65-point mark seem very reachable. Advertisement Related: CJ McCollum explains the difference between a good and a great NBA player: "I've seen LeBron ice in the club" 10 points shy of the MSG record If Crawford's hunch were correct — that he had 65 in him that night — he would've walked away with the most points ever scored at Madison Square Garden. That honor belongs to Carmelo Anthony, who lit up the Charlotte Bobcats for 62 points in January 2014. Before that, Kobe Bryant held the record, thanks to his 61-point performance in February 2009. LeBron James also had quite a night at the Big Apple on February 4, 2009, finishing with 52 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists. Advertisement The list of all-time Garden scorers includes Bernard King, who poured in 60 on Christmas Day in 1984, Michael Jordan's 55-point masterpiece in 1995 and Patrick Ewing's career-high 50 in 1990. King's record stood for 25 years in the history books before Bryant rewrote it. With nearly seven minutes left, Crawford had a lot of time to ensure he sat at the top of the list. If Thomas had let him finish the job, history might have read differently. Related: Grant Hill puts Jamal Crawford in a special category: "He's your favorite player's favorite player" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jamal Crawford shares how his 52-point explosion in 2007 inspired the late Heath Ledger: "You never know who's watching"
Jamal Crawford shares how his 52-point explosion in 2007 inspired the late Heath Ledger: "You never know who's watching" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Jamal Crawford scoring 52 points against the Miami Heat on January 26, 2007 stands out for several reasons. First, it was the highest-scoring game of his 20-year NBA career. Second, it became one of the few bright moments for New York Knicks fans during a difficult era. Advertisement And third, a lesser-known fact: this performance by the former shooting guard actually inspired the late actor Heath Ledger, who won an Academy Award in 2009, to start playing basketball himself. Star power on display Recently, three-time Sixth Man of the Year Crawford joined "Eye for the Game" and reflected on that electric night in late January 2007. Both the Knicks (18–24) and the Heat (18–22) entered the game with losing records after slow starts to the season. Normally, that would mean just another forgettable midseason matchup. But this time, Crawford — the eighth pick in the 2000 NBA Draft — had other plans. Advertisement At the time in his third year with the team, the Seattle native remembered stepping onto the floor at Madison Square Garden before tipoff and instantly feeling the energy. As usual, the lights, buzz, and star power were all there. Among the faces in the crowd: Ledger. Back then, the actor from Perth, Australia was on a hot streak, fresh off "Brokeback Mountain," "A Knight's Tale," and "The Patriot," with his now-iconic turn as the Joker in Christopher Nolan's "Batman" trilogy just months from release. Crawford likely spotted him right away. "I always look to see like faces in the crowd, celebrities," the former Michigan Wolverine recounted. Related: "In my 20 years, he was probably the best offensive player or best player I've seen" - Dirk Nowitzki on why Kobe Bryant was undeniably the greatest player he ever faced in his career Inspiring Ledger's basketball passion Ledger, who tragically died a year later from an accidental drug overdose, had front-row seats to the game — where Crawford's scoring brilliance was on full display. Advertisement Against the Heat, the skilled guard shot 20 of 30 from the field, including eight of 10 from three-point range, and made all four of his free throws. Leading the Knicks to a 116-96 win over the defending champions, JC, who logged in nearly 40 minutes, was the clear man of the match. Nearly two decades later, the now 45-year-old reflected on Ledger's reaction to him taking over that night. Crawford recalled getting an email six months ago from someone who was at the game with Ledger. After watching the Knicks player's explosive performance, they headed to "The Spotted Pig" in Manhattan. They hung out with the restaurant's investor and hip-hop icon Jay-Z. According to the message, Heath told Jay about Jamal scoring 52 points, which inspired him to pick up basketball himself. "Just know that you had an effect on him playing basketball," the email concluded. Advertisement Podcast host and former NBA player Austin Reaves was stunned by Crawford's story. "So, he's (Ledger) thinking, 'All right, going to my first Knicks game, basketball game. This dude goes for 52 against the championship team," he said. "Then I go out, I'm hanging out with Jay-Z. He's talking about you, and now he wants to play basketball." "That's crazy…You never know who's watching. You just never know," Crawford replied. They say basketball connects people unexpectedly, and this story is a perfect example. Related: Jamal Crawford on Isiah Thomas benching him early in 52-point game at MSG: "I would have got 65, easy" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
