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Jae Crowder is taking training camp very seriously: “Trying to elevate my game”

Jae Crowder is preparing hard for the grind of the season ahead.

Jonas Panerio

© Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
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After not getting the opportunity he had wanted under former coach Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks forward Jae Crowder is preparing to seize the day under new coach Adrian Griffin. Proof of this is the effort he’s putting forth in training camp and the three Bucks’ preseason games. While most veterans coast and use the preseason as a way to shake out the rust, Crowder is looking to take advantage of every minute he’s on the court.

“I’m taking this very serious. I’m taking these minutes serious. I’m taking this whole process of learning coach and learning a new system and all that very serious. Trying to elevate my game,” Crowder said.

Another shot

Crowder’s decision to return to Milwaukee raised eyebrows across the league. After sitting out most of last season due to a contract dispute with his former team, the Phoenix Suns, he was finally traded to the Bucks at the trade deadline in February. 

However, his role wasn’t what he came to expect, as the 12-year veteran played sparingly in the NBA Playoffs. He wasn’t even used in Game 4 and suited up just 18 seconds in the deciding Game 5.

“Obviously, knowing that I missed last year. Just trying to blow it out in the terms of both ends, conditioning, and learning-wise. Just trying to learn as much as possible before the real games start. So I’m taking this training camp more seriously than I would in the past few years,” Crowder shared.

Veteran presence

You can never have enough veterans on a team with title aspirations. The Bucks have a bevy of experienced players on their roster, but Griffin singled Crowder out for his “calming presence” due to the fact that he’s gone through the gauntlet of the playoffs many times over.

“It’s good to have a veteran presence out there,” Griffin said. “(Crowder) never gets rattled. I think he’s a calming presence for our team and also a good vocal leader. I couldn’t be happier about his contributions as far as his performance and also his leadership.”

“He’s a veteran guy that just knows where his shots are going to come from, knows how to get his shot off. You can’t speed him up. He’s solid. You can tell he’s been around the block once or twice and played in some big-time games, so he’s definitely a huge piece for us moving forward,” Griffin continued.

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO