NBA Mailbag

NBA Mailbag: Most impressive start? Favorite player to watch?

20-year NBA veteran Jamal Crawford answers 20+ questions on Week 1, how to improve at basketball and more.

Jamal Crawford, for NBA.com

Victor Wembanyama has shown flashes of his immense potential during his first three games.

The NBA Mailbag is here to answer your questions throughout the 2023-24 season! Have a question for Jamal? Submit it at the bottom of this edition of the NBA Mailbag. 

Who impressed you most during the opening week?

– from Keith in Seattle

Cam Thomas was the biggest surprise of opening week for me. I knew he could score. But it’s like it’s automatic now every single time he plays substantial minutes. That’s really impressive to stay ready at all times.

In your opinion, who will be the biggest surprise this season?

– from Giovanni in Vicenza, Italy

The Pelicans. If Zion is healthy the whole season, then they’re a team that could make some serious noise. And nobody’s really talking much about them yet.

How will genetic phenomenons like Chet and Wemby change the game of basketball?

– from Stefan in Vallego, CA

If they both continue to grow and continue to stay driven, then they’ll be two of the players who push the game forward. It’s similar to when there was Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki. Then LeBron came along, then Durant. Now the international MVPs like Jokic, Giannis and Embiid. Both Wemby and Chet look capable of joining that lineage and igniting a new era.

Who do you think Victor Wembanyama resembles the most in the way he plays?

– from Kevin in Akron, OH

He resembles a player you create in 2K with the best skills and then you stretch them out to 7-foot-4. He’s in a class of his own.

Could Wembanyama become the greatest Spurs player ever?

– from Kenny in Mount Vernon, NY

That’s a very, very high bar. But he could enter the conversation. Let’s see him play a full season first.

Which conference got stronger with all the changes and trades? The East or West?

– from Eric in New York City

The West has gotten stronger. In addition to the defending champs and all the other elite contenders, you also have teams like the Clippers and Pelicans who could reach new levels if they can stay healthy. The West is power-packed right now.

I see you picked the Bucks coming out of the East but the Celtics having the best starting five. Assuming the stars are healthy if they meet in the playoffs, are you still sticking with Milwaukee?

– from Steve in Morrison, CO

Yeah, I’m still sticking with Milwaukee. That extra depth can be the difference in not only a playoff game, but a playoff series.

Do you think Maxey will be an All-Star?

– from Marco in Tampa, FL

Yes, I think Maxey will make the All-Star team if the Sixers have a strong start to the season. He’s playing at an All-Star level, and he’ll continue to have plenty of opportunities now that Harden is headed to LA.

Who do you think will win the MVP award who hasn’t won one yet?

– from Tylan in Crest Hill, IL

Of the players who haven’t won one yet, I would place my bets on Jayson Tatum.

Who do you think will be the scoring champ?

– from Mohammad in Spain

Luka or Embiid.

Who’s your favorite NBA player to watch?

– from Wayne in New York

Kevin Durant.

What’s your take on the Suns’ chances of being a good to very good defensive team?

– from Andrew in New York

They have a chance to be a good defensive team. But they may be a team in the playoffs that just needs timely stops because they have so much offensive firepower. So there may be times in the game where they just have to get a stop the next two possessions, or something like that. They’re so skilled on offense that they don’t need to be elite at defense to win playoff games.

What does it take for a young guy like Mobley to play with more decisiveness and fluidity? Do you think some guys just have it or can it be taught at this level?

– from Jay in Cleveland

It’s a mix of both. For Mobley, I think the more he becomes the focus of the offense, the more confidence he will gain to be decisive. Right now everything is kind of based on their guards. If he becomes the focus, he will feel more freedom to follow his instincts and that should help increase his confidence and decisiveness.

Do you think OKC can end up in the top 4 in the West?

– from Justin in Pittsburgh

I don’t have them Top 4 in the West, but I think they’ll for sure finish in the Top 8.

What seed do you think the Knicks will finish?

– from Salomon in New Jersey

I could see them landing in the 4-6 range, similar to last season.

What do you think of the Houston Rockets this year?

– from Noelle in Houston

They have a solid collection of young talent. But it’s going to take time to put everything together.

What young player are you always looking at to see how they grow in the league?

– from Alejandro in Orlando, FL

One rookie who is already a favorite of mine is Amen Thompson. I’m watching how he’s growing from game to game and I think he’ll be a star in the league when his time comes. I’m a huge fan of how he plays the game.

Do you think the new In-Season Tournament will be a success like the Play-In Tournament?

– from Otis in Greenville, SC

Yes, I do. Whenever there’s something to win or lose, that’s when you get the best of everybody. Once the actual tournament happens, you’ll see a lot of teams really going for it and that’s great for the league. And it’s great for us fans.

Who is better Allen Iverson or Kyrie Irving?

– from Flavio in the Dominican Republic

Oh my gosh. I’ll say Iverson was better in the 90s and Irving was better in the 2010s. How’d I do? 😂

You’ve got to start a franchise this season. Do you build it around Irving or Brunson?

– from Morgan in Providence, RI

No disrespect to Brunson because I’m a huge fan of his and he’s 1000% right in the middle of all the good stuff that’s happening in New York. But Kyrie Irving is an all-time talent and there’s really nothing he can’t do on a basketball court. So if I had to start a franchise today, I would pick Kyrie Irving. No doubt about it.

What’s the most important thing to know if you’re a 6th man?

– from Jacob in Spain

The most important thing to know is you’re just as valuable as a starter. You bring a different element to the team and game. It’s a role that is vital to winning, which is important for a 6th man to remember.

What was it like entering the NBA as a rookie?

– from Gal in Toronto

It was crazy. I was seeing so many of my heroes that I just had on my wall or were watching the year before. For me, it was overwhelming at points but it’s a learning process. And some of the things I learned, I have never forgotten. I miss those times, even through the struggle, because they helped me turn into a much better player.

What was your “Welcome to the NBA” moment?

– from Raziel in New Brunswick, NJ

It was playing Latrell Spreewell at The Garden in the preseason. At that time, both teams were in the same hallway before they ran out. And I’ll never forget Spreewell in The Garden saying, “OK, I’m reloaded!” from the Jay-Z song. He said it so loud and I’m like, “That’s Spreewell saying that! I can’t believe it.” Then I had to guard him in the game and he went right past me for a dunk the first time I was on him. I was so nervous and he was so fast. He went baseline for the dunk that welcomed me to the NBA.

How does an NBA player decide what sneakers they’re wearing for the game?

– from Lin in New York

Great question. It’s different for every player. Sometimes it depends on if there’s a special day, like it’s a Christmas Day game or MLK Jr. Day game. Or some guys wear a shoe simply because they had success in it before. I wore the same pair of shoes on the road, one pair at home and another pair in practice for the whole year. So I had three pairs of shoes for an entire season. People called me crazy. But they were comfortable, so I didn’t switch it up. Equipment managers tell me I was the only person they ever saw do that.

Having played and consistently scored at the highest level for a long time, what advice can you give to newer basketball players to help them become consistent scorers?

– from Gabriel in the Philippines

Become a three-level scorer. Don’t just be a player who shoots 3s. Or a player who drives. Or a player who shoots mid-range. If you can add all three of the levels to your game, you become unpredictable and a lot harder to defend.

Do you think that you are the best ball-handler ever?

– from David in Australia

I won’t say I’m the best. But I won’t say one’s better than me. 😉

What was your favorite experience with a fan in the league?

– from Cade in Pennsylvania

There are two fan moments that stick out to me. One was in Utah when a teenager had my jersey on, I made eye contact with him and he started crying. So I met him after the game and gave him my jersey. That was a really cool moment because here we were in Utah, where I had never played besides as a visitor, and a kid was crying because he saw me. I still keep in touch with him.

The other was a younger kid in Portland, like seven or eight years old. He couldn’t find my jersey, so he made his own jersey of mine by writing my name and number on a t-shirt. That was cool.

Did you collect basketball cards and was there a card that was a particular favorite of yours?

– from Richard in Virginia

I did collect basketball cards. I would try to keep my cards in mint condition. I had the double plastic sleeves where there was a soft plastic cover and I put that into a hard case plastic. So I was into collecting. My favorite cards were the ones I had of my favorite players – Jordan, Magic and Isiah.

How did you feel when your son received his first D1 offer?

– from Philip in Media, PA

It was surreal. Earlier in the day we were going to the gym and he asked me when I got my first offer. I told him my sophomore year of high school. He was like, “I’m going to beat that.” Fast forward literally 30 minutes and we’re at a gym where he’s playing with high schoolers. He played well and the offer came that day. So I couldn’t believe it because we were talking about it an hour earlier.

What was the WHY factor that pushed you to get up and chase your goals every day?

– from Sayerr in Seattle, WA

My why factor was just love of the game. It’s weird thinking back on. It wasn’t like, “Oh, I have to make it to change my family circumstances.” We weren’t well off by any means, but that wasn’t my motivation. It was love of the game. I dreamed about this. I loved the game so much and I wanted to play against the best players in the world. That was my motivation. And looking back, that’s why I played so long. That’s why I still play … because I love the game.

I’m trying out for my school’s basketball team. Any tips to help me make the team?

– from Max in Texas

Work as hard as you can to stand out with your energy and effort. Have a good attitude. Be the first in the gym and the last to leave. And be a good listener … be very coachable. Those things always stand out at tryouts.

Have A Question For Jamal? Submit It Below!

Check back on Tuesdays throughout the 2023-24 season for more editions of the NBA Mailbag!

Related

Latest