Jamal Crawford 's impressive two-decade-long NBA career is often attributed to his role off the bench—it certainly helped his longevity. However, Jamal was unquestionably one of the most talented bucket-getters during his heyday. According to the former NBA guard, the same would be the case if he played today.
Crawford on his scoring average at the age of 44
On the ‘Captain Jack’ podcast, Crawford explained how, even at this age, he could still average 18 points per game in just 25 minutes of action.
"I'm averaging 18 points, for sure. Imma tell you how I’ll do it. I’m gonna make three threes a game. That’s at nine. I’m going to make three mid-ranges a game. Now I’m at 15. And I’m gonna make three free throws. That’s easy," Crawford said .
"I'm gonna shoot eight threes; I'm gonna make three of 'em... shoot four midranges, make three of 'em. I'm gonna go to the cup a couple of times; I'll make three free throws... I'm sitting down, bro, in my 25 minutes."
Crawford's final full season (played more than 60 games) in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns in 2018-19 showed glimpses of how well he could do if he continued playing. His 51-point performance against the Dallas Mavericks wherein he shot 60% from the field and 53.8% from the 3-point line, made him the oldest player to register a 50-point performance, justified just that.
However, Jamal’s assertion that he could average 18 points per game at the age of 44 in today’s fast-paced NBA seems overly optimistic. This figure not only surpasses his career average of 14.6 points, but his claim to shoot eight three-pointers per contest is also very high compared to his career three-point attempts of 4.6 per game.
Lastly, while the modern NBA may favor drawing fouls, such a strategy requires quickness that may be difficult to maintain at 44. Moreover, the fact that only 50 players averaged 18 points or more in the 2023-24 season underscores the ambitiousness of JC’s claim. Nevertheless, his confidence is admirable, even if it may not align with reality.
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Crawford sees today's NBA as less challenging
The league has experienced a significant increase in scoring in recent years, partly due to even the role players attempting five-six three-pointers per contest. Additionally, stricter rules for the defenders have made it increasingly convenient for scorers to attack the paint.
During his appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, JC noted that such changes have led to more players recording 30-40-point performances more regularly .
"I also think the defender is a little bit handicapped. You can’t really touch a person. It's freedom of movement, " J-Smoove said . " I think the power of the three-point shot and the fact that everybody can shoot the three-point shot, as far as being allowed to, there used to be some restraint like it’s reserved for guys who can really shoot it. "
This evolving NBA landscape perhaps explains why Jamal is confident about averaging 18 points per game. Unfortunately, we'll probably never know if that would really be the case.
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