Landon Buford
Jamal Crawford surprisingly is still without an NBA home head into next season. The former multi-time sixth man of the year winner played last season as a member of the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 7.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Including a 51 outburst in what would be Dirk Nowitzki’s final game in the NBA after 21 seasons. Unfortunately, for Jamal Crawford and the Suns, they would loss 120-109.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get the win, but obviously it was Dirk’s night tonight,” Crawford said. “So you don’t feel all the way bad. It was not about me at all, and it was about my teammates and coaches; I just have to do my part.”
Crawford is entering his 20th season in the NBA, and throughout his two-decade career, he has averaged 14.6, points, 2,2 points, and 3.4 assists mostly off the bench. Due to spending most of his career coming off the bench, but has never made an All-Star team.
Last week, during a phone interview former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, weighed on the discussion of should Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams ever make an All-Star team.
I think so! I think the whole sixth man because of Ginóbili makes the All-Star team, but Lou Will doesn’t? It’s kind of sucks because I don’t think Ginobili dominated a season more than Lou Will. Ginóbili made two All-Star teams, one he averaged 15 and the other one he averaged 17, but his best year was 19. When it comes to Lou Williams, I know he averaged 20 last year, 22 one year, and then 20. I mean just a player, I think Lou Williams is more dominate than Ginobili and he didn’t play on a better team. So, for him not to make an All-Star team nor Jamal it is all perspective.
If you land on a championship team and then by winning a championship, but when it comes to your individual output versus someone else, I those guys had a better stent than Ginobili. Crawford averaged 20, 19, 19, 19, 19 and those guys never made an All-Star team.
Future Hall of Famer Manu Ginóbili averaged 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists during his 15-year career with the San Antonio Spurs, and won three championships. Throughout his career, Ginóbili has primarily come off the bench and delivered instance offense for the Spurs. However, he was still able to earn two All-Star selections in 2005 and 2011. According to Arenas, he was given the benefit of the doubt due to being on a championship team.
If you land on a championship team and then by winning a championship, you get rewarded for it, but when it comes to your individual output versus someone else. I think those guys had better stents than Ginobili. Crawford averaged 20, 19, 19, 19, 19 and those guys never made an All-Star team. However, their stats are All-Star worthy, and they would make an All-Star team if they were starting. Look at Klay Thompson, he averaged 21 last season and was named an All-Star, and signs for $177 million. Lou Williams averages 22 and makes $5 million off the bench. He is averaging some of the same numbers as the starters, but he is only making $5 million and get snubbed on All-Star selections, and in contract negotiations.
As a member of the Los Angeles Clippers, Lou Williams averaged 20.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.4 assists off the bench. Many could argue that if Williams, were in a starting role last season with the Clippers, his number across the board would have increased.
They must take that into consideration if this guy just starts, he is an All-Star and if he is labeled a starter that would make him an All-Star team. He is considered a max player if he is a starter. Not a Supermax player, but he is a max for sure. That has to be addressed because you are talking about most of the guys coming off the bench can be starters. The starter that is playing in front of them aren’t really that good, but they are in the starting line up for matchup purposes and that is the only reason why someone like Luo Williams or Jamal Crawford is coming off the bench.
Nobody is saying JJ Reddick was better than Jamal Crawford, but JJ fits better in the system the Clippers are running. The same thing with Ginobili, you can’t say Brue Bowen was better than Manu Ginobili in scoring. The purpose of having a Bruce Bowen in the starting lineup is to stop the other team scorer. Having Ginobili come off the bench provided instant scoring, but those guys get screwed on contract money, All-Star selections, and All-Team voting.
Last season, Crawford signed a one year deal with the Phoenix Suns worth $2,393,887 per Spotrac.com
