Rowan Kavner 
Digital Content Coordinator
LOS ANGELES – Kia Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford made it clear he’d like to remain a Clipper while appearing on “The Jump” on ESPN.
Crawford said after Game 6 in Portland he’d like to stick with the team, and the upcoming free agent reiterated his comments on the show Wednesday.
“That’s my first priority, to get something worked out here,” Crawford said.
Crawford earned two of his record three career Sixth Man of the Year awards while with the Clippers, including this past year when he once again averaged double digits in scoring and shot better than 90 percent from the free-throw line.
If the Clippers want to bring Crawford back, they have his Bird Rights and can go over the salary cap to do so. Head coach Doc Rivers said after the season ended that his primary goal this offseason is keeping his own guys, and that sounds like something Crawford would want.
“I hope so,” Crawford said. “This has been like a home for me. My family enjoys it. I feel like we’ve had so much heartache over the last few years. To break through with this group would mean everything.”
The Clippers received another bad break, perhaps the worst they’ve ever been dealt, when they lost both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin in a matter of seconds in Game 4 before falling in six games to Portland.
“It was unbelievable, because we didn’t get a chance to have our whole team healthy the whole season,” Crawford said. “Right when we started getting guys healthy, the playoffs start, we’re trying to work those kinks out, and that happens.”
Crawford hopes he’ll get another chance with this core group of Clippers.
His comments on “The Jump” echoed what he said immediately after the Clippers’ season ended, when he stated that he wants to embrace the challenge and get past it with this group.
“This feels like home,” Crawford said after Game 6. “This feels like my brothers in the locker room. Obviously, that part will take care of itself in July, but I’d love to continue to further my career with the Clippers, no doubt about it.”