Former Suns G Jamal Crawford announces official retirement

Three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner and 20-year NBA veteran Jamal Crawford officially announced his retirement on Sunday, his 42nd birthday.

Crawford, who with his elite handling and bucket-getting repertoire redefined the NBA role of a bench scorer, played for nine different teams over the course of his career, including the Phoenix Suns in 2018-19.

He averaged 7.9 points and 3.6 assists in 64 games off the bench that season, closing the year with a 51-point performance in the season finale. That was his second-to-last NBA game played.

Crawford joined the Brooklyn Nets and played in a single outing during the 2019-20 season. Brooklyn signed him because it was down players during the COVID-19 NBA bubble reboot in Orlando.

Crawford, who is from Seattle, was the eighth overall pick in 2000 and played the first four years with the Chicago Bulls.

He then appeared for the New York Knicks (2004-09), Golden State Warriors (2008-09), Atlanta Hawks (2009-11), Portland Trail Blazers  (2011-12), Los Angeles Clippers (2012-17), Minnesota Timberwolves (2017-18), Suns (2018-19) and Nets (2019-20).

He is second all-time in points off the bench and one of eight players who appeared in games across 20 or more seasons.

Crawford, who has spent the past year doing broadcast work, announced his retirement Sunday with a brief message on Twitter.

“ Goodbye to the game, all the spoils the adrenaline rush.”

Thank you basketball, I owe you everything …..✌🏾 pic.twitter.com/PpKYjoqz9p

— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) March 21, 2022

Follow @AZSports