The former Sun speaks out about his last days as a Sun
While he helped contribute to some of the best seasons in Phoenix Suns history, former power forward and current Sacramento King Jae Crowder’s departure from the team a few seasons ago was anything but peaceful.
Heading into the 2022-23 campaign, it appeared that his role was going to shift, with younger forward Cameron Johnson taking a lot of his minutes. Before he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline, Crowder was asked to stay home, away from the team, before the team could resolve his future.
Yesterday, after an account responded to a post from Crowder on “X,” asking if he left due to a conflict with former Phoenix Head Coach Monty Williams, he responded in classic Crowder form by giving an all-caps response chronicling his final season with the team.
THAT TRU AND ONE DAY I OWE TO THE FANS TO EXPLAIN I NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE AND THEY ASKED ME TO STAY HOME WHILE THEY TRADE ME. ITS A REASON MY TEAMMATES NEVER GOT MAD OR TALKED DOWN ON ME TO THE MEDIA. BC WE ALL WANTED ANOTHER SHOT AT FINISHING WHAT WE HAD STARTED. https://t.co/9rPxTsdG0g
— JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) February 27, 2025
The account that Crowder responded to initially was responding to Crowder discussing how great an era 2015-2021 NBA was and how honored he was to play in it.
ITS WILD TO THINK 2015-2021 WAS A SPECIAL BRAND OF AN ERA OF NBA BASKETBALL .!! HONORED TO COMPETE DURING THAT TIME.! #PEAKHOOPS
— JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) February 27, 2025
Crowder was a pivotal part of the team that posted a franchise record of 64 wins a season after making an NBA Finals appearance, averaging nearly 10 points and 5 rebounds.
Crowder assisted on one of the franchise’s greatest plays, the “Valley Oop,” which helped the team win 2-0 in the 2021 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Since leaving the Valley, Crowder’s role has diminished on the teams he has played for, which include the Milwaukee Bucks as well as the Kings. This year, he has appeared in just seven games, averaging 2.9 points and 35.3% from the field.
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