Jamal Crawford appeared on The Rich Eisen Show as attention centered on Game 5 between the Spurs and Timberwolves in San Antonio, where playoff physicality and officiating were under discussion alongside broader league storylines.
Crawford connected the discussion to playoff physicality involving Victor Wembanyama, noting: “I think if the refs and everybody else is paying attention to everything else in the world, hearing coach Mitch Johnson’s press conference after last game and saying, you know what, I don’t condone what he did, but he has to take matters in his own hand. He’s been getting beat up on.”
He added context on what he saw in real time: “I was just like giving Wemby props in the game like, man, you know, all the holding and grabbing, he’s not, you know, going for it. He’s just gets up, bounce back, no expression, no nothing. And then that happened.”
On the reaction around that sequence, he said: “Re and I were kind of grabbing each other’s arms like what? Like, oh my gosh. And leaning into Mike like, “Wow.” Because we had just seen Wemby’s always so cool, calm, and collected.”
Crawford also discussed how the Spurs center should respond moving forward: “I tell him to keep his cool because that’s what they want you to do. They want to get you frustrated. They want to get you off the court because to your point, Rich, there’s no other way to deal with him.”
Shifting to the Lakers and LeBron James, Crawford stated: “I don’t think he’s done period, because he’s such a big icon that I think he’ll say it early enough where he can really enjoy going in every city knowing it’s his last time.”
He added on roster direction and fit concerns: “If it’s last year in LA, that’s a little bit different because obviously part of the last part of fun, even though it’s frustrating, was that he was back being the number one option.”
On possible destinations, Crawford said: “Golden State. Golden State. Golden State. I think for him, he staggers what they do well.”
He also offered another scenario: “Cleveland, I think maybe full circle going home again.”
Crawford then turned attention to Oklahoma City’s rise, stating: “I think the most impressive thing of their team for me is that they’re winning the present, they’re winning the middle, and they’re winning the future.”
He expanded on coaching and structure: “He is so impressive… Most people coach and now I watch coaches even more than I watch the players. So I’m studying and he coaches and he puts himself literally in the game.”
On roster construction and long-term outlook, he added: “They’re winning on every level. And for me, they’re going to be a tough out. It’s going to be tough to beat them four times.”
Crawford closed with a broader league conversation, including potential movement around Giannis Antetokounmpo: “You’re going to need a star player. You’re going to need a young star on the rise and you’re going to need a ton of picks.”
