Rowan Kavner
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. – Jamal Crawford felt the feeling before.
Still, hearing trade rumors and rumblings both in-season and during the summer is something he said he’ll never get used to, despite his history dealing with them.
He heard them in Chicago during his four years with the Bulls. He heard them in New York during his four and a half seasons with the Knicks, before he was actually dealt to Golden State. He heard them in his half a season with the Warriors before getting traded to Atlanta, where he won the first of his two Sixth Man of the Year awards.
Harboring a feeling of uncertainty is inevitable when the rumors happen so often, and this summer was no exception for Crawford.
“You think at different points, not that it shouldn’t be happening, but it’s like, I’ve already dealt with this,” Crawford said. “That’s just the way it is, especially now with social media. Everything’s smaller. One rumor can go across the country.”
Amid the flurry of rumors, it helped Crawford being home in Seattle, where he spends his summers with family away from it all. But he’s human, players have families they’re thinking about, and he wasn’t bashful this summer sharing his feelings regarding the uncertainty on social media.
Admittedly, there were stressful moments. At times, Crawford wonders if being so easygoing works against him at times. But as all his thoughts crossed his mind, he had one sanctuary.
“Get in the gym,” Crawford said. “That’s it. That’s always been a safe haven for me. Getting in the gym, it can be me and just the ball or me and the basket. I’m comfortable doing that. It’s always been that way since I was a kid.”
This summer, Crawford kept the same routine.
He worked out. He played basketball. He helped in his community, running camps, working with local high-schoolers and going through his Pro-Am. He ran backpack giveaways and barbecues for his city.
All of it helped ease his mind.
Next Game: 10/31
So did talking to his teammates, including Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and J.J. Redick, which he did throughout the summer. They were normal conversations with friends, some basketball-related, some not.
“I talked to him quite a bit,” Griffin said. “It’s basketball, but it’s also checking in, ‘How’s it been going,’ stuff like that. I never really anticipated Jamal being a problem. He’s not one of those guys. He’s a guy who comes in and plays basketball, and that’s what he’s done.
“He’s been very professional all of his career. You don’t expect anything different, but it should be noted he does a great job with that.”
Some players hear trade rumors and return to their team with a grudge.
Jamal Crawford was not one of those players.
“It’s more about just controlling what you can control,” Crawford said. “DJ, Blake and CP and myself were the only guys who were here three years ago. If I wasn’t supposed to be here, I guess I wouldn’t be here.”
Crawford said a feeling-out process wasn’t necessary once he reported back to Los Angeles. He said everything was immediately normal, which is what head coach Doc Rivers was hoping for. Rivers said when a player returns, that player will either like what the team is trying to do or he won’t.
“I had a strong feeling he would,” Rivers said.
And he did, despite the unclear summer.
J.J. Redick knows how difficult it can be hearing trade rumors, particularly when a player is where he wants to be. Crawford signed with the Clippers in 2012 because he wants to be where he’s at.
“I went through that in my career my seventh year in Orlando,” Redick said. “I didn’t necessarily want to get traded, but for the whole season, my name was out there. It does take its toll mentally.
“I think as player you want to have some sort of reassurance and a kind of security and comfort that you’re going to be in one place, but Jamal’s been terrific since he’s been here, and I kind of knew that that was going to happen once he got around the guys and saw the familiar faces.”
Since his return, Crawford’s teammates don’t see a change.
Crawford doesn’t talk about the summer unless it’s brought up. He doesn’t mope or act bitter or resentful. He’s the same Crawford, willing to lend a helping hand.
After getting to know him, his teammates would expect nothing less.
“Any question you have, he’s going to have some kind of answer for you,” said C.J. Wilcox. “He just knows hoops. He can help you on and off the court. He’s been around a lot of guys. He’s seen the NBA for a while.”
Asked if he’s noticed anything different in Crawford since his return, it’s a quick response.
“Same old Jamal,” Wilcox said. “I knew he was confused about what was going to happen this season, but he bought in. It’s good to see he’s the same old Jamal doing his thing.”
Crawford has demonstrated “his thing” early this year, starting the season with double-digit scoring in each of his first two games, beginning 11-for-20 from the floor while rubbing off positively on everyone, from young players to veterans.
Josh Smith hadn’t played alongside Crawford since the 2010-11 season in Atlanta, but it was Crawford he said he leaned on to get the most comfortable when he first arrived in Los Angeles.
Even players who didn’t know Crawford well before their arrival with the Clippers notice his positivity.
“He’s a really good guy,” said Pablo Prigioni. “I had that feeling before I met him here in L.A. I had a feeling he’s a guy you can joke with and a fun guy. But since I met him, I love him. He’s one of the great guys on the team.”
