_(cropped).jpg) Crowder with theBoston Celtics in 2017 | |
| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward /small forward |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1990-07-06)July 6, 1990 (age 35) Villa Rica, Georgia, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Villa Rica (Villa Rica, Georgia) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 2012: 2nd round, 34th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Playing career | 2012–present |
| Career history | |
| 2012–2014 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2014 | →Texas Legends |
| 2014–2017 | Boston Celtics |
| 2017–2018 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2018–2019 | Utah Jazz |
| 2019–2020 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2020 | Miami Heat |
| 2020–2023 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2023–2024 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2024–2025 | Sacramento Kings |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Corey Jae Crowder (/dʒeɪ/JAY;[1] born July 6, 1990) is an American professionalbasketball player who last played for theSacramento Kings of theNational Basketball Association (NBA).
Not being heavily recruited out of high school, Crowder committed toSouth Georgia Technical College and laterHoward College, where he led the team to anNJCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in his sophomore season. While at Howard College, Crowder was also namedState Farm Junior College Player of the Year. Later, he transferred toMarquette, where he was namedBig East Player of the Year in his senior season.
After his senior year ended, Crowder declared for the2012 NBA draft, where he was drafted 34th overall by theCleveland Cavaliers and traded to theDallas Mavericks on draft night. In 2014, Crowder was traded to theBoston Celtics. He spent three years in Boston before being traded back to his draft team, the Cavaliers, in August 2017. In 2018, Crowder was traded to theUtah Jazz. He was dealt to theMemphis Grizzlies in 2019, and he was traded to theMiami Heat in 2020, with whom he reached his firstNBA Finals withthe same year. In the 2020 offseason, Crowder signed with thePhoenix Suns and reached his secondNBA Finals in2021. After disagreements between Crowder and the Suns' front office, both sides mutually agreed on having Crowder sit out for the start of the2022–23 season. He would eventually be traded to theMilwaukee Bucks in 2023. In 2024, he signed with the Sacramento Kings.
Jae Crowder was born on July 6, 1990, in Villa Rica, Georgia, to Helen Thompson and basketball playerCorey Crowder. Crowder attendedVilla Rica High School, where he played as startingquarterback for thefootball team and as startingpoint guard for the basketball team. Crowder spent the summer holidays in Florida, working out and training with his father, then a professional basketball player with 2 years experience in the NBA who was playing in Europe. Growing up, he was undersized and overweight, weighing nearly 200 pounds in his junior year. Eventually, he called his father to help him lose weight. By the end of his junior year, he had grown to 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and had significantly improved his physical conditioning.[2]
Crowder was not heavily recruited out of high school, although he had some offers in football. He committed toSouth Georgia Technical College, a college in Americus, Georgia. He later transferred to Howard College for his sophomore season. After his junior college eligibility ended, he transferred to Marquette.[2]
In his only season with South Georgia Tech, he led the Jets to their first-ever NJCAA national tournament appearance in his freshman season, under head coach Steven Wright, with the team finishing with a 21–7 record.[3] He was namedGeorgia Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year that season.[4]
In his sophomore season with the Howard Hawks in 2010, Crowder was not only namedNABC NJCAA Player of the Year but also helped the team win its first-everNJCAA Division I championship. In the final game, he registered 27 points and 12 rebounds in an 85–80 overtime victory againstThree Rivers Community College. He averaged 18.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.4 steals per game as a sophomore while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 76.0 percent from the free throw line.[3]
After his season with the Howard Hawks, Crowder transferred to Marquette University, selecting the Golden Eagles overUNLV,Georgia Tech,Texas Tech andIllinois State, among others.[4] He averaged 11.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in his first season with Marquette.[5] Somebasketball statisticians believe Crowder was statistically the best all-around player during the2010–11 season.[6] On January 1, 2011, Crowder recorded a career-high 29 points and 8 rebounds in a game against theWest Virginia Mountaineers.[7] On March 30, 2012, Crowder was named East Perfect Player of the Game in theReese's College All-Star Game.[8]
For the2011–2012 season, Crowder averaged 17.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.[3][5] Crowder led Marquette to a second-place finish in the Big East, as well as their second consecutive Sweet 16. During the same season, he was named Big East Player of the Year, as well as an AP Second-Team All American.[3]
After finishing his college career, Crowder decided to enter the2012 NBA draft, where he was projected to be a second-round pick.[9] Crowder was taken 34th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers; however, a draft night-trade with the Mavericks sent him to Dallas, along with 24th overall pickJared Cunningham and 33rd overall pickBernard James, in exchange for 17th overall pickTyler Zeller andKelenna Azubuike.[10][11] He was officially signed on July 20, 2012, on a non-guaranteed two-year contract, like all second round draft picks.[12] His Marquette teammateDarius Johnson-Odom was also drafted with the 55th overall pick.[10]
Due to his strong showing inNBA Summer League and preseason games, he was described as "the steal of the NBA draft",[13] averaging 11.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 1.6 assists and 0.8 blocks in 22 minutes per game in the preseason[14] and 16.6 points, 1.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, 2.0 steals and 41.7 percent shooting in Summer League, where he was also voted into the All-Summer League team.[15] This strong showing raised expectations in the young player, as he was viewed as possibly the Mavericks' newfranchise player and possibly a futureAll-Star.[16][17]
His stellar play earned him a spot in coachRick Carlisle's rotation.[18] He debuted in the season-opening win against theLos Angeles Lakers. AfterDirk Nowitzki missed most of the early season with anarthroscopic knee surgery and starting small forwardShawn Marion was also injured, Crowder became the team's starting small forward. With Marion and Nowitzki's returns, Crowder's minutes decreased. His contribution started to dwindle around the all-star break, when he admitted that he hit the "rookie wall".[19] The Mavericks were never able to recover from Nowitzki's injury and missed theplayoffs for the first time in 12 years, with Crowder averaging 5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in 17.3 minutes.
On November 5, 2013, Crowder scored a then career-high 18 points in a 123–104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.[20] On February 27, 2014, Crowder was assigned to theTexas Legends of theNBA Development League.[21] He was recalled by the Mavericks on February 28, reassigned on March 1,[22] and recalled again on March 2.
On June 10, 2014, the Mavericks exercised their team option on Crowder's contract.[23] With the offseason additions of forwardsAl-Farouq Aminu andRichard Jefferson, Crowder's minutes subsequently dropped to start the 2014–15 season, falling out of coach Rick Carlisle's frontcourt rotation.[24] On November 9, 2014, he scored a season-high 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting in a 105–96 loss to the Miami Heat.[25]
On December 18, 2014, Crowder was traded, along withJameer Nelson,Brandan Wright, a 2015 first-round pick, a 2016 second-round pick and a $12.9 million trade exception, to theBoston Celtics in exchange forRajon Rondo andDwight Powell.[26] On January 12, 2015, he scored a then career-high 22 points in a 108–100 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.[27] On April 14, 2015, he hit an off-balance fall-away two-point shot from deep on the right wing with 0.8 seconds left, lifting Boston to a 95–93 win over the Toronto Raptors.[28][29] After averaging just 3.6 points in 10.6 minutes per game with Dallas to start the 2014–15 season, Crowder became an important role player for the Celtics in Brad Stevens' rotation, and subsequently lifted his averages to 9.5 points in 24.2 minutes per game.
On July 27, 2015, Crowder re-signed with the Celtics on a reported five-year, $35 million contract.[30][31] On December 18, 2015, he scored a career-high 24 points in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks.[32] He topped that mark on January 4, 2016, scoring 25 points in a 103–94 win over the Brooklyn Nets.[33] On January 13, he tied his career high of 25 points in a 103–94 win over the Indiana Pacers.[34] On March 14, he was ruled out for two weeks with a right ankle sprain.[35] He returned to action on March 31 against the Portland Trail Blazers after missing eight games.[36]
In the Celtics' season opener on October 26, 2016, Crowder scored 21 points in a 122–117 win over theBrooklyn Nets.[37] He appeared in the team's first four games of the season, but then missed eight straight games with a sprained left ankle.[38] He returned to action on November 19, scoring nine points in a 94–92 win over theDetroit Pistons.[39] On March 17, 2017, he recorded season highs with 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 98–95 win over Brooklyn.[40] On March 26, 2017, he set a new season high with 25 points in a 112–108 win over theMiami Heat.[41] In Game 1 of the Celtics' Eastern Conference semifinal match-up with theWashington Wizards, Crowder scored a playoff career-high 24 points, helping the Celtics win 123–111.[42]
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On August 22, 2017, Crowder was traded, along withIsaiah Thomas,Ante Žižić and theBrooklyn Nets' 2018 unprotected first round pick, to theCleveland Cavaliers in exchange forKyrie Irving.[43] Eight days later, the Celtics agreed to send the Cavaliers a 2020 second-round draft pick via theMiami Heat to complete the trade.[44] On November 20, 2017, Crowder scored a season-high 18 points against theDetroit Pistons.[45]
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On February 8, 2018, Crowder was acquired by theUtah Jazz in a three-team trade that also involved the Cavaliers and theSacramento Kings.[46] In his debut for the Jazz three days later, Crowder scored 15 points in a 115–96 win over thePortland Trail Blazers.[47] On March 9, 2018, he scored a season-high 22 points in a 95–78 win over theMemphis Grizzlies.[48] In Game 5 of the Jazz's first-round playoff series against theOklahoma City Thunder, Crowder scored a career playoff-high 27 points in a 107–99 loss.[49]
On January 1, 2019, Crowder scored a career-high 30 points in a 122–116 loss to theToronto Raptors.[50]
On July 6, 2019, theMemphis Grizzlies acquired Crowder from the Jazz, along withGrayson Allen,Kyle Korver and draft picks forMike Conley Jr.[51] He made his Grizzlies debut on October 23, recording 13 points, five rebounds and two assists in a 120–101 loss to theMiami Heat.[52] On October 27, Crowder hit the buzzer beating, game-winning three-pointer to defeat theBrooklyn Nets 134–133 in overtime.[53] He finished the game with six points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks.[54] On January 4, 2020, Crowder scored a season-high 27 points, alongside eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three blocks in a 140–114 win over theLos Angeles Clippers.[55]
On February 6, 2020, Crowder was traded to theMiami Heat in a 3-team trade.[56] The trade reunited Crowder with his former college teammateJimmy Butler. On February 9, Crowder made his Heat debut, recording 18 points, eleven rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 115–109 loss to thePortland Trail Blazers.[57] In the2020 Eastern Conference Finals, Crowder scored 22 points in a 117–114 Game 1 win over theBoston Celtics.[58] The Heat eventually won the series in six games and advanced to theNBA Finals for the first time since2014. In the Finals, Crowder and the Heat lost in 6 games to theLos Angeles Lakers.
On November 28, 2020, Crowder signed a 3-year, $30 million contract with thePhoenix Suns.[59][60] He made his Suns debut on December 23, recording four points, nine rebounds and four assists in a 106–102 win over theDallas Mavericks.[61] On April 12, 2021, Crowder scored a season-high 26 points, alongside two rebounds and two assists, in a 126–120 win over theHouston Rockets.[62] The Suns qualified for the postseason for the first time since2010.
On June 22, 2021, in Game 2 of theWestern Conference Finals, with 0.9 seconds remaining in regulation, Crowder inbounded the ball from behind the baseline toDeandre Ayton for a buzzer-beating, game-winning alley-oop dunk to lift the Suns to a 104–103 victory over theLos Angeles Clippers.[63] In Game 6 of the series, Crowder scored 19 points in a decisive 130–103 win that sent Phoenix to theFinals for the first time since1993.[64] In the Finals, he was the only player on either team with Finals experience. The Suns lost to theMilwaukee Bucks in six games.
On December 6, 2021, Crowder scored a season-high 19 points, alongside six rebounds, in a 108–104 win over theSan Antonio Spurs.[65] On March 6, 2022, he again scored 19 points, alongside five rebounds and seven assists, in a 132–122 loss to theMilwaukee Bucks.[66] The Suns qualified for the playoffs yet again, but were eliminated in seven games by theDallas Mavericks in the second round.
On September 25, 2022, Crowder and the Suns mutually agreed to let Crowder sit out for the 2022–23 season until the Suns found a suitable trade partner for him.[67]
On February 9, 2023, Crowder was acquired by theMilwaukee Bucks from the Suns as part of a four-team trade that also included theBrooklyn Nets andIndiana Pacers, whereKevin Durant was acquired by the Suns.[68][69] On April 4, 2023, Crowder recorded 19 points and nine rebounds during his first start for the Bucks in a 140–128 win over theWashington Wizards.[70][71] Three days later, he had a season-high 24 points in a 137–114 loss to theMemphis Grizzlies.[72]
On July 9, 2023, Crowder re-signed with the Bucks.[73][74] On February 8, 2024, he recorded season highs of 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in a 129–105 loss to theMinnesota Timberwolves.[75]
On November 27, 2024, Crowder signed with theSacramento Kings.[76]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Dallas | 78 | 16 | 17.3 | .384 | .328 | .644 | 2.4 | 1.2 | .8 | .2 | 5.0 |
| 2013–14 | Dallas | 78 | 8 | 16.1 | .439 | .331 | .754 | 2.5 | .8 | .8 | .3 | 4.6 |
| 2014–15 | Dallas | 25 | 0 | 10.6 | .434 | .342 | .909 | 1.2 | .5 | .6 | .2 | 3.6 |
| Boston | 57 | 17 | 24.2 | .418 | .282 | .762 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .4 | 9.5 | |
| 2015–16 | Boston | 73 | 73 | 31.6 | .443 | .336 | .820 | 5.1 | 1.8 | 1.7 | .5 | 14.2 |
| 2016–17 | Boston | 72 | 72 | 32.4 | .463 | .398 | .811 | 5.8 | 2.2 | 1.0 | .3 | 13.9 |
| 2017–18 | Cleveland | 53 | 47 | 25.4 | .418 | .328 | .848 | 3.3 | 1.1 | .8 | .2 | 8.6 |
| Utah | 27 | 0 | 27.6 | .386 | .316 | .768 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .9 | .3 | 11.8 | |
| 2018–19 | Utah | 80 | 11 | 27.1 | .399 | .331 | .721 | 4.8 | 1.7 | .8 | .4 | 11.9 |
| 2019–20 | Memphis | 45 | 45 | 29.4 | .368 | .293 | .789 | 6.2 | 2.8 | 1.0 | .3 | 9.9 |
| Miami | 20 | 8 | 27.7 | .482 | .445 | .733 | 5.4 | 1.8 | 1.3 | .5 | 11.9 | |
| 2020–21 | Phoenix | 60 | 42 | 27.5 | .404 | .389 | .760 | 4.7 | 2.1 | .8 | .5 | 10.1 |
| 2021–22 | Phoenix | 67 | 67 | 28.1 | .399 | .348 | .789 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 1.4 | .4 | 9.4 |
| 2022–23 | Milwaukee | 18 | 3 | 18.9 | .479 | .436 | .833 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .7 | .3 | 6.9 |
| 2023–24 | Milwaukee | 50 | 25 | 23.1 | .422 | .349 | .722 | 3.2 | 1.3 | .8 | .2 | 6.2 |
| 2024–25 | Sacramento | 9 | 2 | 11.4 | .318 | .267 | .833 | 2.2 | .7 | .3 | .0 | 2.6 |
| Career | 812 | 436 | 24.8 | .418 | .347 | .777 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .3 | 9.3 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Dallas | 7 | 0 | 11.6 | .444 | .429 | .000 | 1.7 | .3 | .3 | .1 | 2.7 |
| 2015 | Boston | 4 | 1 | 25.1 | .517 | .300 | .769 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .8 | 10.8 |
| 2016 | Boston | 6 | 6 | 32.9 | .278 | .244 | .636 | 6.5 | 2.2 | 1.5 | .5 | 9.5 |
| 2017 | Boston | 18 | 18 | 33.1 | .435 | .352 | .833 | 6.4 | 2.7 | 1.1 | .3 | 13.6 |
| 2018 | Utah | 11 | 2 | 29.4 | .324 | .333 | .643 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 1.4 | .2 | 10.0 |
| 2019 | Utah | 5 | 3 | 26.0 | .370 | .300 | .737 | 5.8 | .8 | 1.0 | .0 | 10.0 |
| 2020 | Miami | 21 | 21 | 31.4 | .403 | .342 | .761 | 5.6 | 1.9 | .7 | .6 | 12.0 |
| 2021 | Phoenix | 22 | 22 | 33.1 | .413 | .380 | .886 | 6.1 | 1.9 | .9 | .8 | 10.8 |
| 2022 | Phoenix | 13 | 13 | 29.5 | .400 | .302 | .731 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 1.0 | .5 | 9.4 |
| 2023 | Milwaukee | 4 | 0 | 10.2 | .231 | .000 | .500 | 1.0 | .8 | .5 | .0 | 1.8 |
| 2024 | Milwaukee | 4 | 0 | 10.5 | .250 | .143 | 1.000 | 1.5 | .5 | .0 | .5 | 2.3 |
| Career | 115 | 86 | 28.6 | .392 | .333 | .770 | 5.2 | 1.8 | .9 | .5 | 10.1 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | Marquette | 37 | 17 | 27.6 | .485 | .359 | .616 | 6.8 | 1.6 | 1.3 | .9 | 11.8 |
| 2011–12 | Marquette | 35 | 35 | 32.9 | .498 | .345 | .735 | 8.4 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 17.5 |
| Career | 72 | 52 | 30.2 | .492 | .350 | .683 | 7.6 | 1.8 | 1.9 | .9 | 14.6 | |
Crowder averaged .498 from the field and .345 from the three-point line in his senior season at Marquette.[9] Crowder grew from a chubby kid into a muscular player, training with intense will and commitment to improve his skills.[2] Rick Carlisle compared him toTayshaun Prince, whom he coached while with theDetroit Pistons, stating: "Jae just has a maturity beyond his years. He’s got a natural motor and a natural, real, pure basketball energy. He’s the kind of guy who would fit in on any team."[19]
Crowder's father,Corey, played in the NBA for theUtah Jazz and theSan Antonio Spurs and had a 14-year professional basketball career, mostly playing in Europe.[77] Crowder has seven siblings.[2] He majored incommunication studies at Marquette'sDiederich College of Communication.[citation needed]
Crowder's mother Helen Thompson died of cancer in August 2017. She died the same night he was traded to Cleveland from Boston. At his introductory press conference in Cleveland, he said, "The good thing about the whole ordeal was I was able to whisper it to my mom before she passed. I was with her. I just told her, 'We're going to Cleveland.' Five minutes later, she passed."[78]
