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Even when McDaniels was 16 years old, Crawford knew he was different. “I always look at the height-to-skill ratio,” Crawford said by phone after McDaniels and the Minnesota Timberwolves edged the Blazers, 124-121, on Tuesday night. “His height and how skilled he was, he loved to play. A lot of guys play and a lot of guys like it, but he loved to play, loved to compete and I saw that even at a young age.”
Crawford beamed watching McDaniels finish the game with flair, perhaps a little nod to a hooper who always loved to lay on the style points. On the broadcast, Crawford likened the dunk to Kyle Lee Watson throwing it down in “Above The Rim.” “To see it all come together tonight was just so cool because it was like, man, this is the kid we saw when he was in high school,” Crawford said. “You knew what he could be.”
Crawford spoke to him last summer, telling him the next step for him was to not let a few missed shots deter him from being aggressive. “I know a lot of guys, they work on things, but then when it comes to the game, it’s not their role. So they’re comfortable in their role or they do their role, and then they forget some of the things they’re working on,” Crawford said.
Exuberant broadcaster John Fanta is slated to make his NBA on NBC Sports debut as a play-by-play announcer next week, Front Office Sports has learned. Fanta will be on the call for Timberwolves–Trail Blazers on Tuesday night, working alongside color commentator Jamal Crawford and sideline reporter Grant Liffmann. The game will air on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.
The 24-year-old’s performance was so impressive that Doc Rivers compared Thomas to two of the greatest Sixth Men ever whom he coached during his 27-year NBA career. "It’s unbelievable. I’ve had Jamal Crawford, I’ve had Lou Williams, and now I have Cam Thomas," Rivers told reporters after the game. "Very similar, but they’re all different in their own ways. Cam wants to do right. He wants to play well. You can see that. We’re going to give him every opportunity. The guy is a natural scorer, and you can see that. He probably forced one or two today where he over-dribbled. You live with that and you teach that to get that out of him. But overall, he was fantastic, and he competed on the other end."
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Anthony Calhoun: #Pacers legend REGGIE MILLER in San Francisco at #SuperBowlLX on the field with Carmelo Anthony and Jamal Crawford. @WISHNews8 #allACcessindy @Pacers
#Pacers legend REGGIE MILLER in San Francisco at #SuperBowlLX on the field with Carmelo Anthony and Jamal Crawford. @WISHNews8 #allACcessindy @Pacers pic.twitter.com/x9JPKMpr6v
— Anthony Calhoun 📺 (@ACwishtv) February 8, 2026
Lou Williams: I love Jamal Crawford, and that's another person I want to show love to on this platform because people try their best to pit us against each other so much and he is nothing but gracious to me, bro. He is the big bro that I wish a lot of hoopers get an opportunity to have in their corner man like I can't say nothing negative about Jamal at all especially with him being somebody like again we in such a competitive nature and that sh*t could have took our relationship anywhere, because crabs in a barrel, I got to be the I got to be the one. And it turn it went from that to be a healthy competition. Like I was pushing him and he was pushing me. And when we had that conversation, it was interesting to know that he was like, "Oh yeah, I was directly competing with you." Like, "Yeah, I see your box score like, "Oh, you did that last night. All right, I got to go out here." And when we played against each other, it was that, but it never got to a toxic place. It stayed healthy. It stayed professional. And I'm grateful for that. And I'm grateful to have the relationship I got with him.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list of eligible candidates for the Class of 2026, featuring several high-profile first-time nominees. Notable new candidates for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 include the 1996 USA Basketball Women's National Team, Mike D’Antoni, Jamal Crawford, Elena Delle Donne, Blake Griffin, Joe Johnson, Candace Parker, Bruce Pearl, and Kelvin Sampson. Marv Albert, Mark Few, Doc Rivers, and Amar’e Stoudemire are among returning eligible candidates.
“The candidates for the Class of 2026 have each left an indelible impact on the game of basketball,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “Through defining performances, influential leadership, and achievements that helped elevate the sport on the national and international stage, this year’s ballot recognizes those whose legacy continues to shape how the game is played, coached, and celebrated.”
MSG Networks has signed Steve Novak for a primetime spot off the bench. The former sharpshooter, 42, who played two seasons in New York, will serve in the analyst role for about a dozen games as Clyde Frazier’s backup this season, MSG Networks announced Thursday. Novak’s debut is Friday night against the Bulls in Chicago, where the Knicks will try to snap a two-game skid. Novak is replacing Jamal Crawford, who was Frazier’s backup last season but moved to NBC for the national station’s return to NBA broadcasts.
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The NBA returns to NBC and Peacock next month. And during the NFL's first Sunday Night Football game of the season, NBC unveiled a 45-second reminder. During the airing of the Buffalo-Baltimore NFL matchup, NBC released a new promo — one featuring the lineup of some of its announcers and analysts, done in the same way that NBA teams announce their starters pregame.
Featured in the spot: Grant Hill (who rips away his warm-up suit to reveal a dress suit and tie), Vince Carter (who puts on a headset), Reggie Miller (who autographs a dress shoe, tosses it to a fan in the stands and fakes a choking gesture before fixing his tie), Tracy McGrady, Carmelo Anthony and Jamal Crawford.
Though their bond couldn’t have been predicted, a dog with Haven’s unwavering loyalty—and the size and aptitude for outdoor adventures—is what Booker was hoping to find when he began his search for a four-legged companion. His canine preference did not fall on deaf ears: “Bro, are you still looking for a dog?” Booker’s former teammate Jamal Crawford texted one day. “He had retired, but he remembered me talking about wanting to get a dog,” Booker says. Crawford, who owns Haven’s cousin, urged Booker to look into cane corsos. “Everything I read up on them I loved,” says Booker, “and yeah, the rest is history.”
After a two-year hiatus, Jamal Crawford is even bringing his popular pro-am basketball league back next summer. “The Crawsover will be back,” Crawford said. “Next year I have it planned out, because I know I’ll be coaching, but still there’ll be a better plan going forward for sure.” Crawford said NBA stars such as Stephen Curry and Zion Williamson have expressed interest in playing in the event.