NBA Mailbag: Are the Knicks contenders? Do the Lakers need to make a change?
The Knicks are 4-0 since adding OG Anunoby in a trade with Toronto on Dec. 30.
• NBA All-Star 2024: Vote here
The NBA Mailbag is here to answer your questions throughout the 2023-24 season! Have a question for Jamal? Submit it at the bottom of this edition of the NBA Mailbag.
The Knicks have looked great after the addition of OG. What are your thoughts? Are they for real?
– from Nick in Griswold, CT
They’re better after the trade, for sure. I don’t know if they’ve reached the “for real” / contender status yet. But they definitely improved and the trade was needed. I think they’re top 6 in the East now.
Do you think the Lakers need to make a major change to get back on track?
– from Martin in Grand Rapids, MI
It feels like we’re always saying the Lakers need some type of change to get back on track. I don’t think they need to make a major move now. The change they need to make is to play faster. They play too slowly, and that makes each possession mean so much more than they should at this point. They’re playing playoff basketball in the regular season.
Who do you think should start for the All-Star Game?
– from Michael in Philadelphia, PA
For the West, let’s go:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic.For the East:
Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid.How much do you think team success should factor into All-Star nods?
– from Jack in Brooklyn, NY
It should absolutely factor into All-Star nods. It doesn’t mean a player on a struggling team isn’t an All-Star-level player. There was one season I remember clearly where I was averaging 20 points and five assists, but didn’t make the All-Star team. I was one of only nine players in the league doing that and six of those nine players became All-Stars. But I understood that my team record didn’t reflect an All-Star season, so it made sense. Wins have to matter.
Is SGA a serious MVP contender?
– from Nadeem in Niagara Falls, NY
1000%. The way he plays is very unique. It’s not only the pace and scoring he plays with, or the fact that he lets others shine as well. He’s also becoming the player that some fear while on the court, and that’s a special level. And they’re winning. So he absolutely will be one of the finalists for MVP if he keeps at this pace.
What do you think is going on with the Suns? They have the team for a championship, yet they’re not even in the Play-In currently. What’s up with them?
– from Steven in Richmond, VA
The Suns are built for the playoffs. They just need to get there and stay healthy. And I don’t think they’re done making moves to solidify their depth. I still have a lot of faith in the Suns because I picked them before the season. So I have to stand with them.
Which of the young teams in the NBA do you think has the most potential as the team gets older and more experienced?
– from Morgan in Elmira, NY
OKC and Orlando are the two young teams that jump out to me as having the most potential over the next 3-5 seasons.
Who do you think is the best NBA coach right now?
– from Davide in Italy
We all know Popovich is an all-time great. I’ll also add Spoelstra, Mark Daigneault in OKC, Ty Lue in LA and Mike Brown in Sacramento.
Out of all current players under the age of 30, who has the best chance of cracking the Top 10 all-time list?
– from Luke in Los Angeles, CA
It’ll be tough for any current players to crack my all-time Top 10. But the two players under 30 with the best chances right now are Jokic and Giannis.
What is the most incredible statistic in the NBA?
– from John in Brooklyn, NY
There are a lot! Here are 5 that jump out to me:
Michael Jordan winning 3 straight championships, retiring for a year and a half, and then winning 3 more back-to-back-to-back.Bill Russell winning 11 titles in 13 seasons.Jordan going almost a decade without losing 3 games in a row.Wilt Chamberlain scoring 100 in a game.Jordan being the only player to win a championship, Finals MVP, MVP, All-Star MVP, scoring title and All-Defense in a single season – and he did it twice.So many things Jordan did during his career are incredible.
What in your opinion differentiates great shooters from good shooters?
– from Emrik in Toronto, Canada
Confidence and opportunity. Sometimes you’ll see a player who is a great shooter go 0-for-3 and then he doesn’t get many more looks that game so it looks like he’s not a great shooter. But another player could start 0-for-3 and still get more looks to create a rhythm. Then they’re looked at like an all-time great shooter. Everybody works and everybody prepares. At the end of the day, though, confidence and opportunity are key to what separates players.
What is the most underrated skill and/or personality trait that every NBA player has, that most fans/media members don’t acknowledge?
– from Jacob in Petaluma, CA
Discipline. A lot of players have discipline and sacrifices to make that fans and media might not see on the court. A player may not get many minutes in a game, but they had to get to the gym 2 hours before practice and stay an hour afterward. They’re away from their families and have to sacrifice a lot off the court to stay focused on the game.
What do you think is the greatest team ever assembled?
– from Angelos in Athens, Greece
The 1992 Dream Team.
Who is one NBA player in the league today who you think would compliment you well if you two played together?
– from Josh in Philadelphia, PA
Kevin Durant or Nikola Jokic.
Who was your favorite player to cross over?
– from Kyle in Arizona
Anyone who was a great defender.
Who was one opponent you crossed up so bad you had to watch the replay?
– from Alessandro in Murieta, CA
I love him, but the one against Kirk Hinrich. I did that move on the fly, so I had to watch the replay because I didn’t know exactly what I did.
16 years ago today, Jamal Crawford did this to Captain Kirk 👀 pic.twitter.com/PSwof3FKFz
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 8, 2024
What was your first jersey number, what team was it and why did you pick the number?
– from Akinniyi in Cyprus
It was No. 23 because of Jordan, of course. He was everything to me and still is. The team was for Rainier Beach Community Center.
Who was the hardest coach you played for?
– from Lane in Cambridge, MN
Tim Floyd in Chicago. I was a young player who didn’t know much and he wanted to teach me a lesson. So he was the most difficult to play for.
Who is the best 1 vs. 1 player in the NBA world? Not who’s the greatest player, I think they’re different questions.
– from Rob in Orlando, FL
Kyrie Irving.
For a younger player (age 14) would you recommend playing AAU or just getting in the gym as much as possible until high school?
– from Luke in Powhatan, VA
Getting into the gym as much as possible has to happen whether you play AAU or not. The gym is the foundation for learning the game and growing your skills. So get to the gym or a hoop as much as possible, period.
My son plays basketball but we don’t have any free indoor gyms to practice at in the winter. Do you have any good in-the-house drills for him?
– from Paulino in York, PA
Dribbling. Go in the garage or any space where he can dribble indoors. He can do it by himself and it’s a necessary skill to develop as he grows his game. He can also lie down on the bed and practice form shooting.
Is the Gillie vs. Crawford matchup still happening?
– from Devion in McDonough, GA
If Gillie stops ducking me! Tell him I’m ready and waiting.
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