Brooklyn Nets sign Jamal Crawford
Surprised this hasn't been posted yet but the Nets - after losing about half their team - signed Crawford as one of their 4 replacement players. Crawford, 40, hasn't played in the NBA in over year when he dropped 51 points in what was seemingly the last game of his career. The Nets are playing 8 "seeding" games before they most likely get swept by the Bucks. So the next 12 games are probably your last time to see him play in the NBA. Plus, watch the Nets to see how Caris has come along.
It's crazy to think that a guy who last played for Michigan in the '90s (1999 to be exact, IIRC, in the very shortened single season he had in Ann Arbor) is still playing in the NBA.
Article on him from 2016: https://theundefeated.com/features/jamal-crawford-of-the-clippers-long-and-winding-road/
He really did M proud. Salute. Did he play for amaker and ellerbe?
Jesus those uniforms were atrocious . Good for him though, two decades and he's still playing in the NBA.
Brandon Smith and Josh Aselin in the background there
I'll reply to my own reply with a funny story about Brandon Smith. He totally cock-blocked me with this girl that I had been on a couple dates with. Things were going well with this girl after a couple dates, and we decided to go to Skeeps on some random Thursday. Back then, Skeeps was the place to go on Thursday - couldn't resist the $1 long islands even though the hangovers were the worst.
Anyway, at Skeeps Brandon comes up and totally hits on the girl I'm with. Now, I'm by no means intimidating, but I was 6'4" and in good shape. Brandon is taller, but kinda scrawny, so I thought I could totally take him if needed. And the crew with him was pretty weak IMO. However, the girl I was with was not my girlfriend (but was hoping at some point she would be), so I was in an awkward position because I didn't know what do to. I tried to play it cool and switched positions so as I was between the him and my girl. That was enough for him move on. OK good. At which point I decide to use the bathroom. When I come back, my girl is gone! Her friend told me she left with Brandon! WTF!
Needless to say, things ended with that girl, which is another story for another time. But I ran into Brandon and his same crew at Skeeps maybe a week or 2 later, and I totally confront him because I'm drunk. There is a small but heated verbal exchange, and I tell him I'm on the football team (which is a total lie BTW) and since I have the size and shape of a typical college wide receiver, he believes me. I tell him we're out to get you. He freaks and leaves. He then transfers to San Diego State (to be with Steve Fisher) maybe a month later.
yea, cool story bro
Just Ellerbe. Crawford was dominant enough in his half season of play here that it looked like Ellerbe might work out as our coach. Then he got suspended and it was straight downhill from there. Ellerbe lasted one more season before being canned and replaced by Amaker.
Be thankful you don't know the answer to that.
Crawford was wronged by the system in college, so I have enjoyed watching him overcome that & have such success. I’d love to seem him somehow find a roster spot in 2021 & play in the NBA at 41.
The Nets are now my playoff squad because:
- Caris
- Crawford
- Michael Beasley (League Pass treasure, goofy dude, gets buckets on anyone)
- It would be wildly entertaining if they go on a run and then don't get as far next season with Kyrie and KD
The last one isn't happening but a bored man can dream.
Must be the water in Ann Arbor .... Crawford back in the NBA at 41 and Brady looking to quarterback until he is 45. Though Crawford's feat may be the more remarkable.
This is where I disagree. According to the internets, the average life in the NBA is 6.6 seasons, and average life in the NFL is 3.3 seasons. While certainly a massive achievement for Crawford, Tom Brady has been in a position (i.e. QB) that gets a lot of hits. You might get a kicker that can last into his 40s, but a QB of Brady's caliber, who gets targeted by opposing defenses, to make it to 42 (and still going) is almost unheard of.
It's an interesting question without a clear answer IMO.
There have been plenty of geriatric QBs over the years. It's one of those positions where accumulated wisdom and repetitions really matter.
There have been some ancient big men in the NBA, too. James Edwards and Robert Parish come to mind. Wing positions, though? Age shows really quickly there. When physical ability gets diminished even the great ones have trouble keeping up.
I was hoping to convince him to suit up on my over-40 rec league team. Didn't realize I would have to compete with the likes of Brooklyn for his services.
A couple of years ago that might have been a close call
Love his game. Smooth scorer. He just gets buckets all day, always has.
Man...that cat can ball