20-Year NBA Veteran, Ex-Bulls Player Would Have Played for Team USA in Olympic 3x3
![Apr 5, 2019; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jamal Crawford (11) shoots against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Apr 5, 2019; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jamal Crawford (11) shoots against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3600,h_2025,x_0,y_403/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/bulls_news/01j54ttv7356d2xfeaf3.jpg)
USA Basketball turned in a perfect record at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The U.S. Men's Basketball Team went undefeated en route to a gold medal game victory over France, and the Women's Team did the same, pushing their Olympic winning streak to 61 games.
While Team USA dominated basketball at the Paris Olympics, their 3x3 Basketball teams had less success. The U.S. Women's 3x3 Team won a bronze medal in Paris, but the Men's Team did not medal at all.
This led to many wondering why a country with so much basketball talent did not have better players in this event.
Final from Paris. pic.twitter.com/mzHlwL0JOh
— USA Basketball 3x3 (@usab3x3) August 4, 2024
In a post on X, one fan asked former NBA star Jamal Crawford why he did not play for Team USA in 3x3 Basketball.
"That opportunity wasn’t there for me," Crawford responded. I would’ve for sure!!"
That opportunity wasn’t there for me. I would’ve for sure!! https://t.co/CGpe9gbXNp
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) August 9, 2024
Crawford played 20 seasons in the NBA after being selected eighth-overall by the Chicago Bulls (via Cleveland Cavaliers) in the 2000 NBA draft.
Spending four seasons in Chicago, Crawford was traded to the New York Knicks in 2004. Crawford won his first of an NBA-record three Sixth Man of the Year awards in 2006 with New York.
While Crawford is now 44 years old and retired from the NBA, he had 51 points at age 39 in the final game of the 2018-19 regular season:
5 years ago today...
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) April 9, 2024
Jamal Crawford dropped 51 and set a record for points off the bench in a single game since starters were first tracked in 1970-71!
51 PTS | 18-30 FGM | 7 3PM pic.twitter.com/QbsyqOqJrL
Crawford made just one more NBA appearance after this game, playing six minutes for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2019-20 season that saw a lot of different players occupy roster spots due to the pandemic.
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