Joe Crawford (basketball, born 1986)
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joe" Reshard Crawford II (born June 17, 1986 in Detroit, Michigan
) is an American
professional basketball
player. A former shooting guard
for the University of Kentucky
, he was selected as the 58th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers
in the 2008 NBA Draft
. He signed with the Lakers on August 27, 2008, but was waived October 22, during the 2008–09 pre-season
. Crawford's brother, Jordan Crawford
, played college basketball
for Indiana
and Xavier
and currently plays for the Washington Wizards
.
in Detroit, where he led his team to a perfect 27–0 record and a state title. He was named a McDonald's All-American in 2004. Crawford originally committed to play for the University of Michigan
, but reopened his recruitment and chose to attend the University of Kentucky
as part of a freshman class that also featured Ramel Bradley
and All-Americans Rajon Rondo
and Randolph Morris
.
transfer Patrick Sparks and fellow freshmen Ramel Bradley
and Rajon Rondo
, Crawford asked to be released from his scholarship mid-way through his freshman year. After meeting with Wildcat
coach Tubby Smith
, however, Crawford did an about-face and returned to the team.
Crawford became a bigger part of the team's rotation in his sophomore season, averaging 10.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
During his junior year Crawford continued to improve. He started 32 of 34 games and averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He was the leading scorer in 8 games and set a new career high in an overtime loss against the Georgia Bulldogs
with 29 points.
Crawford became the 54th Wildcat to score 1,000 points in his career on December 1, 2007, against the North Carolina Tarheels. As of March 20, he is the 19th all-time leading scorer at Kentucky, with 1,448 points.
On March 20, 2008, Crawford closed his career with a loss to Marquette Golden Eagles
in the opening round of the NCAA tournament
. Crawford was the game's high scorer, matching a career-best with 35 points before fouling out.
with the 58th overall pick in the second round of the 2008 NBA draft
. He signed with the Lakers on August 27, 2008. Crawford was waived by the Lakers
on October 22, 2008. Crawford had played in all three exhibition games during the NBA pre-season, averaging 8.3 minutes and 2.7 points. Crawford had to make the team in order for his contract to be guaranteed. Crawford then played in the NBA Developmental League for the Los Angeles Lakers
affiliate Los Angeles D-Fenders
. On March 26, 2009, Crawford was called up from the D-League by the New York Knicks
and signed a 10-day contract. On April 6, 2009 he signed with the Knicks for the rest of the season. On October 22, 2009, Joe Crawford was waived from the Knicks' roster.
After playing for the Orlando Magic's summer league team in the summer of 2010, Crawford signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Sacramento Kings
. He was released on October 15.
Joe Crawford then joined his former University of Kentucky
teammate Randolph Morris
on the Beijing Ducks
.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A former shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
for the University of Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
, he was selected as the 58th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 2008 NBA Draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
. He signed with the Lakers on August 27, 2008, but was waived October 22, during the 2008–09 pre-season
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
. Crawford's brother, Jordan Crawford
Jordan Crawford
Jordan Lee Crawford is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Washington Wizards. He played collegiately at Indiana University and then Xavier University. His brother is Joe Crawford II, who has also played professional basketball...
, played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Indiana University . The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The Hoosiers play on Branch McCracken Court at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU...
and Xavier
Xavier Musketeers men's basketball
The Xavier Musketeers team is the basketball team that represents Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school's team currently competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference...
and currently plays for the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
.
High school and recruitment
Crawford attended Renaissance High SchoolRenaissance High School
Renaissance High School is a public high school located within the city of Detroit, Michigan. Renaissance is one of four magnet high schools in the Detroit Public Schools district .Founded in 1978 on the previous site of Catholic Central High School, Renaissance's first...
in Detroit, where he led his team to a perfect 27–0 record and a state title. He was named a McDonald's All-American in 2004. Crawford originally committed to play for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, but reopened his recruitment and chose to attend the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
as part of a freshman class that also featured Ramel Bradley
Ramel Bradley
Ramel Bradley is a former American college basketball point guard for the University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team currently playing for Maccabi Ashdod.-High school:...
and All-Americans Rajon Rondo
Rajon Rondo
Rajon Pierre Rondo is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school basketball career, before receiving a...
and Randolph Morris
Randolph Morris
Randolph Albert Morris is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association.-High school:...
.
College career
Seeing minimal playing time behind Western Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
transfer Patrick Sparks and fellow freshmen Ramel Bradley
Ramel Bradley
Ramel Bradley is a former American college basketball point guard for the University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team currently playing for Maccabi Ashdod.-High school:...
and Rajon Rondo
Rajon Rondo
Rajon Pierre Rondo is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school basketball career, before receiving a...
, Crawford asked to be released from his scholarship mid-way through his freshman year. After meeting with Wildcat
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
coach Tubby Smith
Tubby Smith
Orlando "Tubby" Smith is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the men's basketball head coach at the University of Minnesota...
, however, Crawford did an about-face and returned to the team.
Crawford became a bigger part of the team's rotation in his sophomore season, averaging 10.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
During his junior year Crawford continued to improve. He started 32 of 34 games and averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He was the leading scorer in 8 games and set a new career high in an overtime loss against the Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference...
with 29 points.
Crawford became the 54th Wildcat to score 1,000 points in his career on December 1, 2007, against the North Carolina Tarheels. As of March 20, he is the 19th all-time leading scorer at Kentucky, with 1,448 points.
On March 20, 2008, Crawford closed his career with a loss to Marquette Golden Eagles
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
in the opening round of the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
. Crawford was the game's high scorer, matching a career-best with 35 points before fouling out.
Professional career
Joe Crawford was drafted by the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
with the 58th overall pick in the second round of the 2008 NBA draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
. He signed with the Lakers on August 27, 2008. Crawford was waived by the Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on October 22, 2008. Crawford had played in all three exhibition games during the NBA pre-season, averaging 8.3 minutes and 2.7 points. Crawford had to make the team in order for his contract to be guaranteed. Crawford then played in the NBA Developmental League for the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
affiliate Los Angeles D-Fenders
Los Angeles D-Fenders
The Los Angeles D-Fenders are a NBA Development League team based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2006, the team is owned by the Los Angeles Lakers, which became the first National Basketball Association franchise to own a D-League team...
. On March 26, 2009, Crawford was called up from the D-League by the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and signed a 10-day contract. On April 6, 2009 he signed with the Knicks for the rest of the season. On October 22, 2009, Joe Crawford was waived from the Knicks' roster.
After playing for the Orlando Magic's summer league team in the summer of 2010, Crawford signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. He was released on October 15.
Joe Crawford then joined his former University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
teammate Randolph Morris
Randolph Morris
Randolph Albert Morris is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association.-High school:...
on the Beijing Ducks
Beijing Ducks
Beijing Jinyu Ducks or Beijing Ducks or Beijing Jinyu is a basketball team in the North Division of the Chinese Basketball Association, based in Beijing. They were formerly known as the Beijing Shougang Ducks or Beijing Shougang; the name change was likely due to a change of corporate sponsorship...
.