The stars of the Atlanta Hawks are going to make an appearance in the summer pro-am, “The CrawsOver“. The event began as “The Seattle Pro-Am” when former NBA vet Doug Christie started it in 1996. Now it is hosted by former three-time Sixth Man of the Year and 20-year NBA veteran, Jamal Crawford.
Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren – the first and third-overall selections in the 2022 NBA Draft – have already made their appearances, joining Jaden McDaniels.
Hawks forwards De’Andre Hunter showed out in the AEBL on the same day.
We saw John Collins and Trade Young team up in the Drew League a couple of weeks ago and, now, we will get to see Collins, Young, and new addition Dejounte Murray take on the competition in the CrawsOver.
Atlanta Hawks stars John Collins, Dejounte Murray, and Trae Young will take on “The CrawsOver”
Collins and Trae Young’s appearance in the Drew League garnered a lot of attention. Not only has Collins been mired in trade rumors for the better part of the last two seasons. But he is also still managing a finger injury suffered last season. Despite a couple of highlight-worthy plays from the teammates, their team lost.
News of that and Collins becoming the first player in Drew League history reached Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid.
Still, buzz is buzz. And Crawford himself is generating it for the Hawks stars this time.
🚨🚨🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨🚨🚨 Tomorrow @thecrawsover pro am. The all star @DejounteMurray is playing!!!!!!!!!!!!! Annnnnnd he’s bringing with him @jcollins20_ and @TheTraeYoung let’s goooooooooooooooo. Get here early tomorrow!!!!!! 🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) July 31, 2022
We have not seen Murray and Young on the court together since the trade. During summer league in Las Vegas, the pair said that they had yet to work out together but were indeed planning to do so.
It is unclear if all three will be on the same team when they take the floor in the event.
This is another show of camaraderie for Collins and Young amid those trade rumors while also solidifying the former’s place as a part of the Hawks’ “Big Three”.
Collins did not seem too adversely affected by the finger during his Drew League showing. But the prognosis called for rest to let it heal properly which, to this point, has not happened. And his presence on the roster has not stopped others from urging the Hawks to move him for other parts necessary to take the next step.
The Hawks and Collins have publicly said the right things. But this show of togetherness with the two most influential voices in the locker room is significant, just as the team-up in the Drew League was.
Who knows what will ultimately happen between the Collins and the Hawks? Or how well Murray will fit into that equation?
They are going about building up their bodies and chemistry, at the very least.