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3-Time 6th Man of the Year Jamal Crawford Interested in Signing NBA Contract

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured ColumnistMay 4, 2020

Phoenix Suns' Jamal Crawford (11) celebrates with teammates during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

Jamal Crawford is 40 years old and hasn't played in the NBA since the 2018-19 campaign, but he hasn't closed the door on a comeback. 

"I think so," he said when asked if he could sign with an NBA team after the league returns from its hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, per Matt Calkins of the Seattle Times. "But if not, I'll be playing at LA Fitness somewhere, and I'll have more time to spend with my family."

🏁 Jamal Crawford @JCrossover

--all facts. Thankful to still be on this journey. 🙏🏾 https://t.co/RrkMrIeF58

Crawford won the Sixth Man of the Year three times during a career that started in 2000 when he was the No. 8 overall pick in the NBA draft.

This comes after Crawford told ESPN in March he has "been training as if I'm playing."

SportsCenter @SportsCenter

"I've been training as if I'm playing. ... Hopefully I'll get another chance to get back out there." —@JCrossover on wanting to return to the NBA https://t.co/9PChn7t9MA

The University of Michigan product said the inability to consistently play basketball as much as he is accustomed to is one of the difficult parts about the social distancing measures still in place in many parts of the country.

"Oh my God, I've been counting," he said. "I play about three to four times a week, so it's been about 28 or 30 times that I haven't been able to play. I miss hooping, man."

Calkins noted Crawford is the only player in league history to score 50 or more points in a game for four different teams.

One of those performances came in his final game of the 2018-19 season when he torched the Dallas Mavericks for 51 points and became the oldest player in NBA history to score that many points in a game:

House of Highlights @HoHighlights

Jamal Crawford drops 51 points and passes Michael Jordan for the most points scored by someone 39 or older. 👀😳 https://t.co/d4X8MESEKB

Crawford has played in the NBA for 19 seasons for the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns and averaged 14.6 points per game in his career.