Landon Buford
Jamal Crawford is a 19-year veteran out of the University of Michigan and was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers but was immediately traded on draft night in 2000 to the Bulls. During his career, Crawford averaged 14.6 point, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He also a three-time Sixth man of Year recipient and received the NBA Teammate of the Year (2018).
The Seattle native is arguably the best basketball player to ever come out of the area. If you ask anyway that is a student of the game they will always put him in the top three or at least their top 5 when you mention best Seattle hoopers. That is high praise considering there have been a lot of great players to come out of Seattle for example, Doug Christie, Nate Robinson, Terrence Williams, and C.J. Giles that just from his high school Rainer Beach. Other notable players to come out of the city include Avery Bradley, Zach LaVine, DeJounte Murray, Jason Terry, Isaiah Thomas, Brandon Roy, Marvin Williams, Aaron Brooks, Spencer Hawes, Tony Wroten Jr, and Allonzo Trier.
Earlier this season I asked Denver’s guard, Isaiah Thomas where he would rank Jamal Crawford as far as basketball players to come out of Seattle.
“He is number one. 1A & 1B him and Jason Terry,” said Thomas.
Isaiah Thomas on where Jamal Crawford ranks amongst basketball players from Seattle: “He is number one. 1A & 1B him and Jason Terry”
— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) February 22, 2019
Some may argue that it is Brandon Roy, but if you are basing it off of longevity it is definitely Crawford for sure.
Also earlier this season I spoke with Doug Christie to get his take on the top five to come out of Seattle.
” Jamal Crawford, myself, Brandon Roy, IT [Isaiah Thomas], JT [Jason Terry] and I’m sure I am leaving someone out,” said Christie.
.@TheDougChristie names his top five basketball players to come out of the Seattle area @JCrossover, @jasonterry31, @isaiahthomas, @RoyTeam, and himself #SeattleBasketball #SeattleHoopers #Seattle pic.twitter.com/bSulQlSxZ9
— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) March 30, 2019
Last week (April 9th, 2019), I was able to speak to Jamal Crawford prior to the Suns final game of the season against Dallas Mavericks to get his response to his peers naming him in their top five.
”It is kind of mind-blowing because that wasn’t the goal when I started to be one of the best to ever come out of Seattle. I just wanted to be that best I could be and represent Seattle well. With that along this journey, there has been a lot of highs and lows, but you are as good as your peers think you are. All the guys you named to me are top shelf players to ever come through and helped pave the way in one way or another,” Crawford told me.
