Jamal Crawford
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| Position | Point guard/Shooting guard |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Team | New York Knicks |
| Jersey | #11 |
| Born | March 20, 1980 Seattle, Washington |
| Nationality | American |
| College | Michigan |
| Draft | 8th overall, 2000 Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Pro career | 2000–present |
| Former teams | Chicago Bulls (2000–2004) |
Aaron Jamal Crawford (born March 20, 1980 in Seattle, Washington) is an American professional basketball shooting guard with the NBA's New York Knicks.
Crawford is considered by many to be a "tweener", because he is not a pure point guard or a pure shooting guard, but has many of the talents required by each position. Because he is primarily used as a shooting guard, he is often matched up against larger, more physical players. As a result he often struggles on the defensive end of the floor. However, his quickness and his accurate three-point shooting make him a very dynamic offensive player.
Crawford attended the University of Michigan, where he was given a six-game suspension by the NCAA for violating rules on amateurism and extra benefits received by Seattle businessman Barry Henthorn.[1][2]
After being drafted in 2000 as a freshman by the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was traded on draft day to the Chicago Bulls for their pick, Chris Mihm. After four seasons in Chicago, he was traded (along with Jerome Williams) to the Knicks prior to the 2004-05 season, where he started alongside Stephon Marbury at the shooting guard.
Crawford's uniform number (23) is retired at Rainer Beach High School in Seattle. His current uniform number, 11, is in honor of former Detroit Pistons guard and former Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas.[3] On December 6, 2005, he scored 31 second-half points in front of friends and family, as he and fellow Rainier Beach alum Nate Robinson enjoyed a road victory over the Seattle SuperSonics. This occurred just hours after Crawford unveiled Crawford Court, the $100,000 gymnasium for Rainer Beach High School.
On January 26, 2007, Crawford scored a career high 52 points. He hit 8 three pointers, one shy of the team record set by Latrell Sprewell in 2002.[4]
In an effort to avoid further injuries, Crawford put on 20 pounds of muscle in the 2007 offseason.[1]
Crawford is often referred to as "The Closer" because of his ability to play extremely well under pressure. He has hit many clutch shots with the Knicks starting with the one in Houston against the Rockets to beat the buzzer with a three-point field goal on November 18, 2004 during the 2004-2005 NBA season. He is also known for exhibiting spectacular offensive moves.
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