Roughly 16 years since he last played for the team, three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner Jamal Crawford is returning to the New York Knicks. No, he is not returning as a player. Instead, he has taken on a role as a game analyst for the team. According to a statement via the New York Times (login required), Crawford will join MSG Network “for about 10 games.”
“Jamal Crawford will be a game analyst for New York Knicks games this season, sources briefed on the move said Wednesday. While Hall of Famer Clyde Frazier will join Mike Breen on the bulk of the game telecasts, MSG Network has added Crawford for about 10 games. MSG Network declined to comment. This move comes as Crawford is a sought-after free agent on the national scene with interest from major networks.”
Since retiring from the NBA after the 2019-20 season, Crawford has shifted his career towards broadcasting. He began doing game broadcasts for NBA League Pass in 2021 and was an analyst for TNT for two seasons.
Jamal Crawford Returns to New York Knicks As Analyst
Jamal Crawford’s Knicks Career
Crawford played for nine teams during his 19-year career. However, some would say that his best basketball happened when he was a member of the Knicks. The Seattle native played parts of five seasons in New York from 2004 to 2008. With the Knicks, he played 299 games and started 221 of them. He only played in more games for the Los Angeles Clippers (370), but he never started more games for any other team. The next closest was his time with the Chicago Bulls, where he started 118 games. During his Knicks tenure, Crawford averaged 17.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.1 steals.
Jamal Crawford Is Not the Only Former Knicks Player Returning
In an interesting development, Crawford is not the only former Knick returning to the team in any capacity this season. Less than two weeks ago, it was announced that the Knicks were bringing back basketball legend Patrick Ewing as an ambassador. In a statement, Ewing made it clear that he “will always be a New Yorker.”
“As I said the day my number 33 jersey lifted into the rafters at MSG, I will always be a Knick and I will always be a New Yorker. I can’t wait to get started in this new position and to officially be back with the organization that I love so much,” Ewing said in a statement. “The Garden has always been my home and I’m looking forward to working with Leon Rose, Coach Thibodeau, the team and everyone else that makes this place so special.”
The Last Word
Crawford should be an incredible addition. Due to his long NBA career and good understanding of the Knicks organization, he offers a lot as an analyst for the team. Given that this is not a full-time gig for Crawford, it is unknown if he has anything else on the table. Regardless, the former NBA guard has clearly done well for himself after his playing career.
