Jamal Crawford has played for numerous teams throughout his career. One of those teams was the Atlanta Hawks. Take a look at why he is our Hawk of the Week.
Hawk of the Week: Jamal Crawford
Time with Hawks:
2009-10 to ’10-11
Stats as a Hawk:
16.1 PPG, 3.1 APG, 2.1 RPG, 43.7 FG% in 30.7 minutes per game
Before the Hawks:
Crawford played his college ball at Michigan, after a celebrated career at Rainier Beach High School, where he led the team to the 1998 Washington state championship. Crawford played one season as a Wolverine, averaging 16.6 points and 4.5 assists. Crawford brought the flair that Seattle’s guards, like Hawk Villain Isaiah Thomas, have been known to bring to the court since John Stockton’s days at Gonzaga.
Crawford declared for the draft after his freshman season, and was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the eighth overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. Before playing a game in Cleveland, the Chicago Bulls traded Chris Mihm and cash considerations for the 6’5 combo guard. Crawford spent most of his first two seasons buried on the bench, only playing in 84 games total over two seasons. The next season saw him playing in 80 games, and scoring 10.7 points in about 25 minutes per game. Crawford’s breakout season came during the 2003-04 season, where he averaged 17 points a game, and started in 73 games. This was his last season as a Bull though, as he was traded to the New York Knicks during the offseason. As the main offensive option during his 4 1/2 seasons in New York, he averaged 17.6 points and 4.4 assists. Crawford was traded to the Golden State Warriors midway through the 08-09 season for former Hawk Al Harrington. Crawford averaged 20 points and 4.4 assists a game under Don Nelson’s run-and-gun offense. On Draft Night 2009, the Warriors traded Crawford for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton.
As a Hawk:
Crawford joined the Hawks after a 47-win season that ended with a second round sweep by the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Hawks’ backcourt consisted of All-Star Joe Johnson, and Mike Bibby, who was much more of a point guard than Crawford. This led to Crawford playing a reserve role for the first time since his third season in the NBA. His transition from starter to super-sub was flawless, as he averaged 18 points a game, and was awarded with the 2009-10 6th Man of the Year award for his efforts. In Crawford’s first ever playoff appearance, the Hawks were swept in the 2nd round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year, this time at the hands of the Orlando Magic, though Crawford averaged 15 points a game in the team’s defeat. The next season saw the Hawks win 44 games, and beating Dwight Howard‘s Magic in six games. Crawford created one of the biggest moments in recent Hawks history during Game 3 of the heated first round series:
This would be one of Crawford’s last games as a Hawk, as he would sign with the Portland Trail Blazers, after the Hawks were ousted by the Chicago Bulls in six games.
After the Hawks:
Crawford joined the Trail Blazers during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, and averaged 14 points a game, even while shooting 38%, which was the lowest he had shot since his last season as a Bull. His stint in Portland only lasted one season, and the upstart Los Angeles Clippers signed him to be a veteran shot-maker. Crawford went on to win two more 6th Man of the Year awards, making him the only player in NBA history to accomplish such a feat.
Crawford’s time as a Hawk was short-lived but extremely successful, both personally and team-wise. He made the playoffs for the first time in his career while playing in Atlanta, and hit one of the biggest shots in Hawks history, and makes him a perfect nominee to be the newest member of the Hawk of the Week club.