How a single night’s sleep in November changed everything for Crowder, team
Leaving the Miami Heat was such a tough decision that Jae Crowder said he had to sleep on it. He also hoped that letting the Heat sleep on it might have allowed the partnership to endure.
Instead, the veteran forward arrived Tuesday as the opposition, with his Phoenix Suns facing the Heat at American Airlines Arena, after he accepted a three-year, $29 million free-agent contract in the offseason.
With the Heat limiting their offer to a single season, albeit for more than the $9.3 million Crowder is earning this season from the Suns, the 30-year-old forward said he had to go for longterm security instead of trying to run it back for another shot at the NBA Finals with the Heat.
“It was business, it was total business, and I respect Pat [Riley], their whole management for it,” Crowder said upon the Suns’ arrival in Miami. “They stood on it. And I even gave them a whole night to think about that, but they stood on that. So I respect that. And I respect that wholeheartedly.
“So I’m just moving on. I’m happy where I’m at now. I think I made the best decision for myself and my career, and it’s paying off right now.
“We’re playing good basketball. I’m with a good group of guys. I’m having a lot of fun, so everything is
working itself out.”
With Crowder settling in as the Heat’s starting power forward when the NBA moved to a quarantine bubble at Disney World to complete last season, his 3-point shooting helped fuel an unexpected run to within two victories of a championship.
Already with a home in Miami, Crowder said he was hoping for more. At the same time the Heat were looking to maximize salary-cap space for the coming offseason.
Crowder said he felt a connection and strongly considered a return, one that could have forestalled the Heat’s revolving door at power forward this season.
“Of course I thought about it,” he said. “I slept on it. I gave them a whole other night. I just wanted to make the best decision for myself.
“Obviously, I was very comfortable here. My home is here. Everything felt right. We had made a run and I wanted to make it again; honestly I did.
“But I wanted to set myself up financially a little bit, better than what was offered. And that’s what it really came down to. I mean, I tried to make it work out for both parties, but it didn’t work out.
“So I, honest to God, definitely gave it a lot of thought. I slept on it. I gave it another 24 hours before I even made my decision.”
What hasn’t changed is Crowders’ view about those remarkable three months at Disney.
“The relationship that we built and how we came together as a team, the bond we grew together, it definitely helped win some games in the bubble,” he said. “That’s what I took from that experience with these guys and that’s what I will take for the rest of my career, just preaching the bond, the continuity, being on the same page.
“We fell short, but it was a great run.”
One that endures with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Udonis Haslem and last season’s teammates.
“Obviously, me and Jimmy still hold a close relationship, and obviously me and Bam held a great relationship, as well. And Udonis,” Crowder said. “Those three guys I talk to the most, but I talked to pretty much everybody on the team at some point since leaving.
“So the respect and love that we had for one another is there and it will always be there because we did do something special.”