Crawford ‘really excited’ to join Suns
He’s here – with handles, buckets and all.
Jamal Crawford will start his 19th NBA season playing for the Phoenix Suns – and sounds very happy to be doing so.
“I’m excited, really excited,” Crawford said. “I feel really energized to be honest with you. I just like what the organization is doing, the moves they’re making. I love the young players. I’m excited.”
Crawford came to Phoenix on Friday to meet with interim general manager James Jones. He returned Tuesday and officially joined the Suns on Wednesday before they opened against Dallas at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
“There were some good teams out there that had interest, but this had to happen for that to happen,” said the three-time Sixth Man Award winner who has played for seven NBA teams.
“The waiting part. I’ve been in the NBA for 19 years. I’m a person that wants to be out there and playing, but even towards the end of this, the balance of staying in shape and playing and then rolling an ankle or something when you could get called. It was tough, but I’m glad to be here now.”
Crawford didn’t play against the Mavericks, but the veteran worked out – and wished he would have.
“I wanted to be out there with the guys, but I understand coach has a vision as far as learning plays, getting practice time,” Crawford said. “I totally get it. It’s a marathon, but I would love to be out there.”
Suns first-year coach Igor Kokoskov said he “won’t force” Crawford to play right away, but he expects him to play “pretty soon.”
So Crawford might make his Phoenix debut as early as Saturday at Denver. When Crawford does play, Kokoskov sees him coming off the bench and playing the point on offense.
“He’s going to (make plays) for us, he’s going to score a lot,” Kokoskov said.
Along with offense, Phoenix has a proven player who will take the pressure shot.
“People just all see his handles, but he’s a player. He knows how to play the game,” Suns star Devin Booker said Tuesday. “He’s a good veteran. A good guy. Loves basketball. I think we’ll relate very well.”
Booker said he talked with Crawford a week ago about the possibility of joining Phoenix. Crawford declined a 2018-19 player option in Minnesota that had a guaranteed salary of $4.5 million to become an unrestricted free agent.
“He said it was something he wanted to do,” Booker said. “He liked (the idea), but he wasn’t sure yet.”
Booker helped Crawford see Phoenix could be a good fit for him.
“(He talked about) exactly what they’ve been building,” said Crawford, a career 15.0 points-per-game scorer, “how good we can be together.”
The Suns went hunting for a proven point guard in the offseason. They reportedly pursued Damian Lillard, Kemba Walker, Terry Rozier, Patrick Beverley and Tyus Jones, but came up empty.
Phoenix entered training camp with four point guards, with two being rookies – Elie Okobo and De’Anthony Melton – and kept them all through the preseason.
Kokoskov experimented with playing “two-and-a-half” point guards. Secondyear pro Shaquille Harrison started three of the five preseason games. Veteran Isaiah Canaan and Okobo started one. Then Crawford showed up on Friday. Jones spoke highly of Okobo, a second-round pick, saying he was part of the “young core” Phoenix looked to develop.
Canaan re-signed in August and Melton came in a trade with Houston.
Harrison wound up being the odd man out.
The next question is how Crawford, a tough 1-on-1 cover, will fit into an offense that’s about sharing the ball. Crawford has only averaged 3.4 assists in his 18year career.
“I think (my game) will fit real well,” Crawford said. “Obviously, knowing his philosophies, I’ve been studying tape. I don’t every play down. He has a lot of them, but the plays that I’ve been able to get a chance to look at, I think I’ll fit well. I’m really, really excited about it.”
Crawford’s never been known as a great defender, though. He even joked about it when asked about embracing Kokoskov’s defensive philosophy.
“You’re going to pick on my defense already,” Crawford said with a laugh.
Phoenix’s defense was laughable last season, though. The Suns ranked last in defensive rating. Kokoskov wants to change that, and Crawford sounds on board with that mindset.
“Everybody looks at Golden State and their offense, but they go on defensive runs to get out in transition and get those easy baskets,” Crawford said. “I think as long as we lock in and know that it’s not just an individual-based game on defense, but we’re all tied together ... a lot of people sometimes don’t see that part of it, but people that know do. As long as we buy in? I think trust is built on defense.”
Getting great defensive play out of Crawford would be a bonus. In the end, Phoenix added him to provide leadership, experience – and buckets.
“He can score the basketball,” Suns forward Trevor Ariza, who was a rookie in New York when Crawford was there in 2004-05.
“You can never have enough scoring. He can make plays, as well. He’s a smart, smart guard. He’s been playing for a long time. All the experience that he has can definitely help us.”