Former Suns PF Jae Crowder's Early Playoff Exit Teaches Valuable Lesson

Jae Crowder wanted out of the Phoenix Suns - and now fans couldn't be happier.

Through a wildly up and down season, the Phoenix Suns are now under preparations for their second round meeting with the Denver Nuggets. Game 1 is scheduled to be played Saturday, April 29. 

The Suns didn't always make it look easy at times in their 4-1 series win over the Los Angeles Clippers, but regardless: They're still alive. 

Some former members of the organization can't say the same. 

It feels like decades ago Jae Crowder was excused from Phoenix's Media Day session ahead of preseason activities before eventually sitting every single game of the regular season until the Suns found a trade for him. After being included in the trade deadline package that landed Kevin Durant, the Brooklyn Nets quickly shipped him to the Milwaukee Bucks - a team he himself wanted to play for (the Bucks received permission to speak with Crowder before he was traded out of Phoenix). 

"I am thankful my teammates appreciated my leadership. I'm confused and hurt my coaches didn't appreciate the things I brought to our team and organization. And this has nothing to do with financial or contract differences," said Crowder back in January. 

Crowder simply wasn't happy with being pushed back into a rotational role in favor of Cam Johnson - who now isn't on the team, either. Crowder made it known he wanted to have a major role on a championship caliber team. 

That certainly may have looked like the case when the two sides met for the first time in Milwaukee late in the regular season and Crowder hit a few three-pointers to ice the game over his former Suns squad. 

In that moment, perhaps Crowder had won. Yet as we enter the second stage of the postseason, the Suns are still playing - Crowder is not.

The No. 1 overall seeded Bucks were put away in 4-1 fashion by the Miami Heat. According to SportsOddsHistory.com, the Bucks became the third team in NBA history to enter the postseason as favorites to win the title + the top overall seed and lose in the first round, joining 1994 Seattle Sonics and 2007 Dallas Mavericks.

As for Crowder, he appeared in four of the five games played in the first round, averaging a whopping 1.8 points per night in 10.3 minutes of action. He also averaged 1.0 rebound. 

Postseason shooting performances include 1-5, 0-4 and 2-4 to complete a 23.1% field goal percentage in the playoffs. 

Jae Crowder ends his season the way he began it. Sitting at home while the Suns play.

— Espo  (@Espo) April 27, 2023

That's tough. Fans haven't forgot. 

Jae Crowder sat out half the season and demanded a trade just to get front row seats to Cody Zeller highlights to end the season thats toughhhh

— Kofie (@Kofie) April 27, 2023

Perhaps the grass isn't always greener?