Jamal Crawford: The Ambassador of Basketball in the 206

Courtesy of Ricky Frazier 

Courtesy of the NBA

Seattle is a basketball city.  Always been a basketball city.  Only professional teams that had won championships previous to the Seahawks winning this year were basketball teams.  The Supersonics in 1979 and the Storm in 2004 and again in 2010.  Although not from here, the great Elgin Baylor played his college ball here in Seattle, at Seattle University.  The great Bob Houbregs led the Huskies to the final four in 1953 averaging 26 and 11.  Seattle natives have contributed to not only Seattle basketball history but NCAA, and NBA history as well.  

Courtesy of the Bleacher Report

Courtesy of Sportspressnw.com 

Courtesy of WNBA/Getty Images 

Courtesy of Notinthehalloffame.com

Before 1999, there were players from Seattle who had been part of championship teams, and won awards for their great play.  Game 6 1983 Clint Richardson, a Seattle native, Odea high school graduate, who also went to Seattle U, hit a game winning shot to win the NBA championship for the Philadelphia 76ers.  James Edwards, another Seattle native, Roosevelt graduate, played for the University of Washington in the 70's and had career numbers of 14.5 points and 7 rebounds.  He went on to play 19 seasons in the NBA, and won 3 championships with career numbers of 12 points and 5 rebounds.  He was a key contributor on Pistons back to back championship teams in 89 and 90.  Doug Christie, who also went to Rainer Beach High School had a very successful career in the NBA.  One of the best perimeter defenders to ever play the game.  

Courtesy of the NBA

Courtesy of the NBA

Courtesy of the NBA

Jason Terry was a few years ahead of Jamal Crawford. He went to Franklin High School, and won a NCAA championship with Arizona in 1997.  He went on to be named Pac-10 Player of the Year, as well as a First Team All American his senior year in 1999.  Terry has arguably had the most decorated basketball career of any of the legends from Seattle. Terry went on to be drafted 10th by the Atlanta Hawks.  It was the highest a player from Seattle had ever went in the draft at the time. I remember my dad being excited, I remember how excited my peers and I were that someone from Seattle went that high in the draft.  Jason Terry was big time.  I still remember my first year at UW, when he would work out with us occaisonally during the off season.  Jason Terry has won a championship at every level he has played at.  No other basketball player from the city of Seattle can say that.   

Courtesy of the NBA

With that said, being the ambassador of basketball is not necessarily the one who has won the most championships.  Nor is he the won who won the most awards, although that does help.  Jamal Crawford is the ambassador of basketball in the 206.  Not because he has the most points, or because he is the best player from the city.  Has nothing to do with who did it first, or how many All Stars a player has.  
When I look at the picture of JC at Michigan, I think about Michigan versus Duke 1999. To me thats the day he became the ambassador of basketball in the 206.  Although Duke would win the game, Jamal Crawford outplayed Jason Williams, who at the end of the season would be named ACC Rookie of the Year and National Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News. 

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated 

Jamal scored 27 points in 38 minutes and only commited 1 turnover.  Clearly outplayed Jason Williams.  The only criticism of Jamals game that day is that he shot 2-9 from the 3.  Although players have proven it before, Jamal reminded the nation that 206 could play with anyone.  It let the nation know what Arizona coach Lute Olson already knew, Seattle has talent on the hardwood.  I was fortunate enough to play with Jamal Crawford on the courts of Seattle.  
 He gave me advice that made me a better ball player. Gave a lot of kids hope and the confidence, and the know how to make it on the hard wood.  When I was overseas the first player people mentioned from Seattle was Jamal Crawford.  This is after Nate Robinson another Seattle great won a dunk contest, and Seattle legend Brandon Roy, won rookie of the year.  He has a summer league that was the largest in the nation last summer.  Thats huge considering every major city has a summer league.  That means Seattle beat out cities with 2 times the amount of people.

Courtesy of the NBA

Courtesy of the NBA

His league serves two purposes.  It gives Seattle basketball during the Summer, and it allows Seattle to showcase the talent that we have hear in the Northwest.  Thats huge if you are a ball player that did not get much exposure during college.  I know that I got a job due to his league.  He should be considered a Seattle Landmark, His story is one of perseverance, his game is art in motion.  A jumper rivaled by only the best in the game, and arguably the best handle the game has ever seen.  Its more than that, the fact that he has allowed others to be seen by using his name, and his knowledge makes JC, the Ambassador of basketball in the 206.