The Phoenix Suns are in much better shape now than they were last month. Back then, they just had Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and a roster whose flaws raised a lot of concerns.
Now, they have Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren in what is hands-down the best starting five in the NBA.
Had things played out differently, perhaps Jae Crowder would still be on the Suns right now, and he could be on the path to winning a ring alongside Kevin Durant. But after holding out on the team all season long, for a personal matter that has still yet to be explained, Crowder turned his back on the franchise and hasn’t looked back since.
In his first, and probably last, time mentioning his time in Phoenix since the trade, he kept things surprisingly professional to the reporters.
(via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
“I just feel like it’s behind me now. We had some stuff happen internally that they asked me to keep inside, so I’m going to grant their wishes. Obviously I’ve been working with these guys for a trade partner for months now. I think give or take they did exactly what they said they was gonna do. Took longer than what we all expected but it got done.”
“I’m thankful for my time in Phoenix, I’m thankful for my teammates, I’m thankful for the organization embracing me the past two years – we had a great run and we did some great things in Phoenix and we turned their culture around. So I’m happy for those guys. I wish them luck moving forward. I’m moving on to my next chapter in my career here in Milwaukee.”
Crowder is with the Bucks now, where he should fit in perfectly as a veteran 3-and-D wing. While it remains to be seen what kind of season he’ll have going forward, the Bucks definitely picked up a solid piece to close the trade deadline.
Why Did Crowder Refuse To Play For The Suns?
While the exact motive behind Crowder’s exit from Phoenix is still unknown, we know that they had a difference of opinion on his role, which means they likely wanted him to come off the bench when he thought he should have been starting.
“I’ve spoken to every player that I’ve played with on that team and they all have stressed how much they miss [me] and respect my decision, and I’m thankful for their understanding,” Crowder told B/R via text message. “This move of pushing me out the door was a blindsided hit to not only me but my teammates, as you can see from speaking to them and myself and the conversations we’ve had behind closed doors. I will continue to prepare myself daily for battle once the call is made and continue to be a leader on the court, locker room, as well as off the court. 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.”
Whatever happened between Jae and the Suns, that’s all water under the bridge now. With the Bucks, Jae can focus on his own pursuit of a title as the Suns try to make a run of their own with Kevin Durant leading the way.
We will see which team ends up on top in the end.
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