In what equates to quietly in the social media age, former Atlanta Hawks guard and 20-year NBA veteran Jamal Crawford said thank you and goodbye to the game in a short but powerful way. It was just 17 words total as the league gears up for its Play-In Tournament and postseason while the NCAA’s March Madness has the sports world in its clutches.
A disappointing, turnover-filled loss to the New Orleans Pelicans likely drove many Hawks fans off of social media altogether.
NBA Twitter showed their love.
Still, this is a moment that seems like it needs even more attention. Crawford has given two decades to the NBA and many more to the sport of basketball. Just ask one of the many players from his home state of Washington.
Respected veteran Jamal Crawford humbly bows out after 20 seasons in the NBA
The Hawks were a brief stop in a career that, in a good way, could only be described as that of a journeyman. After being acquired initially as insurance for a possible departure of Mike Bibby, Crawford spent two seasons in Atlanta but they were successful. The team went 97-67 with a pair of second-round appearances in his tenure.
During his time in Atlanta, Crawford averaged 16.1 points on 43.7 percent shooting overall and 36.3 percent from long range. He appeared in 155 games (out of a possible 164) all coming off of the bench.
His best season with the Hawks was his first when he put up 18.1 points on 44.9 percent shooting overall and 38.2 percent of his looks from downtown.
He left in free agency following the 2011 season joining the Portland Trail Blazers.
Crawford technically had a second “stint” with the Hawks in 2017 but was bought out following being re-acquired in a three-team deal. He then signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Interestingly, that trade involved current Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari going to the Los Angeles Clippers from the Denver Nuggets.
“ Goodbye to the game, all the spoils the adrenaline rush.”
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) March 21, 2022
Thank you basketball, I owe you everything …..✌🏾 pic.twitter.com/PpKYjoqz9p
The eighth overall pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2000 NBA Draft, Crawford spent his final two seasons on a one-year pact with the Phoenix Suns dropping 51 points in the 2019 season finale followed by a cup of coffee with the Brooklyn Nets as a Substitution Player.
19,419 points scored in 1,327 games over 20 years spent between the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Hawks, Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, Timberwolves, Sun, and Nets. Three Sixth Man of the Year awards (shout out to Lou Williams), and countless highlights. from the man they call ‘J-Crossover’.
There was an organic push on social media for a team to sign him last season and the year before prior to the Nets bringing him in. The rumblings have even existed this season.
As a player with such a strong image on the basketball court, he is known to be more on the reserved side. So, at least in that regard, it is a very fitting way for Crawford to step away despite his career warranting more fanfare than most.