Jamal Crawford has kept a secret from his fellow broadcasters, Mike Tirico and Reggie Miller. Although Crawford is now a color commentator for NBC Sports, calling playoff games alongside Tirico and Miller, he has a catchphrase that he hasn’t shared with them yet.
In an interview with NBC News, Crawford revealed he had prepared a signature call for the postseason. ‘You’re the first person I’m telling I have one. Not even Mike and Reggie know this. When you hear it, you’ll know,’ Crawford stated. He hinted that the catchphrase involved the word ‘court.’
Listeners might be familiar with Crawford’s enthusiasm during broadcasts. After playing in the NBA for 20 years, with nine different teams, Crawford entered the media field in 2021 by calling games for NBA League Pass. By 2022, he was a studio analyst for TNT and later called select games in the booth for MSG Network in 2024.
With the NBA’s return to NBC, Crawford joined as one of the lead analysts. He quickly connected with Tirico and Miller. ‘Reggie is a legend. I still learn and steal from him. Mike is the ultimate point guard,’ Crawford commented.
“Calling games is just one of the ways Crawford remains close to the sport he cherishes.”
In addition to his role at NBC Sports, Crawford narrates a digital documentary, ‘Chasing History,’ produced by the NBA. He travels with his microphone to record voice-overs during the playoffs.
Staying close to basketball is vital to Crawford, who also coaches AAU and works with college and pro players in the offseason. ‘This, for me, is like what I heard in my childhood when legends were on a call,’ Crawford reflects.
As a self-proclaimed basketball enthusiast, Crawford enjoys calling games so much that he sometimes has to contain his excitement. ‘I’m truly a fan of the game in the purest sense,’ he expresses.
Following the second round, Crawford will focus on the Western Conference finals on NBC. When asked about his NBA Finals prediction, Crawford expressed his curiosity about how Madison Square Garden would sound during the championship round. He reminisced on how the New York Knicks fans made it feel like the playoffs during his time with them.