Jamal Crawford played for nine NBA teams over his 20-year NBA career. You wouldn’t think that would make him the best NBA 6th man of his time. But if you look at his stats and/or watched him play, then you’d probably agree, “He was!”
Out of Michigan, Jamal Crawford didn’t make waves until his third NBA season, when he averaged 17.3 PPG with the Bulls. The Knicks acquired him after that 2004 breakout season, and he delivered, averaging 17.6 PPG over his five-year stint in New York. He split the 2008-09 season between the Knicks and Golden State, averaging 19.6 PPG over 54 games. But then the Warriors traded him in the offseason to free up cap space.
Photo courtesy NBA
What came next galvanized Crawford’s career as a “journeyman.” He played for six NBA teams (Hawks, Trail Blazers, Clippers, Timberwolves, Suns, and Nets) from 2009 to 2020.
The best stretch during that time was with the Clippers, which was the franchise’s “Lob City” period with Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and Chris Paul. That group electrified the West with athletic playmaking and devastating finishing, and made the playoffs every year Crawford was with the team. He thrived off the bench, capturing two of his three total Sixth Man of the Year awards during that period.
Many recognize Crawford as one of the best ball-handlers in NBA history, shaking even elite defenders to reach his spot and score. His longevity also amazes; few journeymen average 18.6 PPG on a contender at 33, as he did in 2013-2014.
For my money, J-Crossover was the best NBA sixth man of the 2010s.
