After tearing his ACL last summer during a pick-up game, doctors predicted Jamal Crawford would miss the entire 2001-02 campaign.
"The injury is too serious..."
"He's not strong enough…"
"It just won't happen…"
Everyone seemed to have their doubts about Crawford and he desperately wanted to prove them all wrong. After a summer of playing what he describes as the best basketball of his life, he was determined to return to the court sooner rather than later.
On March 3, 2002, the 6-5, 190-pound guard did just that. With 15 new pounds of muscle added to his frame and a rehabilitated knee, he was back in the Bulls' line-up at New Jersey and his comeback was just getting started.
After missing the first 58 games of the season, Crawford sparked the Bulls off the bench in that game, scoring 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including a pair of three-point field goals, in only 15 minutes.
Against Portland on 3/22, Crawford scored a career-high 18 points, shooting 8-of-8 from the floor and 2-of-2 from three-point range. In 23 games this season, he averaged 9.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg and 2.4 apg, shooting .476 from the floor and .448 from three-point range in 20.9 minutes.
He scored in double digits nine out of the last twelve and he did his part in reminding everyone why he was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. Perhaps most importantly, in the six games Crawford started this season, the Bulls won four times.
Crawford joined Bulls.com for a live chat on Thursday, April 18.
Jonathan (Rio Grande, P.R.): Jamal, I've followed your career since Michigan and loved the fact that the Bulls traded Chris Mihm for you, my question is, If the Bulls get Jason Williams in the draft do you mind moving to the two spot? thanks and good luck next season.
Jamal Crawford: I'm a basketball player first; I feel comfortable with the ball in my hands. Either way is fine with me.
Justin, Seattle: hey jamal, im a huge fan of yours, i graduated from kentridge high school and frequented your games at beach. my question to you is how do you feel about playing in chicago, especially now with the addition of jalen to the extremely young and talented lineup??
Jamal Crawford: Jalen has been great for our team. Chicago has the greatest fans in the world. We're lucky to have the fans that we have.
Amine (Manchester, England): is there any apect of your game you are planning on working on over the summer?
Jamal Crawford: I think I'm going to work on strength and getting better on defense. Strength will help me get better.
Brian: Is anyone going to wear #4 with you being #1, Eddy Curry #2, Tyson #3, and Jalen #5?
Jamal Crawford: Maybe our next draft pick. Actually, I think #4 is retired, Jerry Sloan, so Trent Hassell picked #22 that adds up to 4.
Dave Wisniewski (Schaumburg): Hey Jamal. I have noticed that you have many croosover moves. What is your favorite? Holla back at me.
Jamal Crawford: Any one that gets the guy off balance, that makes Sports Center. I like to go right to left, and left to right, so any one of my crossovers is fine with me.
Justin (Cedarville): Hey Jamal, being a #8 overall pick, do you think there was too much pressure on you the first year, especially with a losing team. And how do you feel that has changed now?
Jamal Crawford: I think there was a lot of pressure on me at first, and then me not playing a lot, there were a lot of questions. But this year with me coming back early and doing well answered some questions and definitely helped.
NYC: What do you think you need to work on most in order to become a complete point gard in the NBA?
Jamal Crawford: Being a leader is first, a point guard in the NBA has to be a leader on the floor. You have to make sure everyone is in the right spots so everything goes smooth.
Eddie: Are you a better sg or pg
Jamal Crawford: I think i'm equally effective at both. I love being both. When your'e young, you don't have one position, you just play, so I can do either one.
jenny,: what's the basketball traditon out there in seattle? are there any other famous ballers from out there now or from the past?
Jamal Crawford: Doug Christie is doing well, Jason Terry, Mike Dickerson. Seattle has some underrated players, we don't get as much attention as California or the East Coast.
Michael Moyer (Tower City,Pensylvania): How come you don't wear a headband anymore?
Jamal Crawford: I wore it as a tribute to Slick Watts, but a lot of guys are wearing it now. So I'll start wearing it again when they stop.
CHICAGO: DO YOU THINK THE INJURY HAS CHANGED YOU IN ANY KIND OF WAY?
Jamal Crawford: Yeah, it made me hungrier. I think everybody who plays takes it for granted, but when it's taken away from you, you really miss it. It made me mentally stronger. It was a blessing in diguise.
Peter, St.Louis: jamal, wasup? do you have family nickname or something that other teammates call you?
Jamal Crawford: Some of my teammates call me J-Crossover or Future or The Chosen One. They have all kinds of nicknames.
henry, ohio: If there was one ball player that you would love people to say that you remind them of, who would it be?
Jamal Crawford: That's difficult. I like to take pieces from everyone's game and try to put it in my own to make me unique. I'd say Penny Hardaway before he got injured. But Michael Jordan is my favorite player of all time.
Nick (Madison, WI): Jamal, what opposing player, has surprised you the most?
Jamal Crawford: There are so many good players... Iverson, I guess. Him and Gary Payton were my favorites growing up. He's so small, but he goes out and plays hard every game. You have to respect a player like that.
NYC: Will you be playing with Michael again this summer?
Jamal Crawford: Definitely. That was the best basketball of my life. I got so much better. It was like a dream come true, playing with him. He was just like one of the guys, MJ was great.
Missy: How is it working with people that are just out of highschool?
Jamal Crawford: It's been a lot of fun watching them grow, they've gotten better each day. It's fun to grow with those guys.
Jamal Crawford: Thanks to all the Bulls fans everywhere Without you, we wouldn't believe in ourselves. You're our sixth man, even when we were struggling, yousupported us. I don't know what we'd do without you. Thanks!
Crawford recorded 17 points and dished out five assists in the Bulls' win over Boston on 4/8.
Jamal Crawford: I'm a basketball player first; I feel comfortable with the ball in my hands. Either way is fine with me.
