Jamal Crawford Named NBA’s Best Teammate for 2017-18

By Johnny Minnesota |

Updated: Apr 16, 2024

On Monday evening, in fashionably late fashion, the National Basketball Association provided fans, players, and media with its second-annual NBA Awards Show.

As anticipated, the TNT-aired program was highlighted with James Harden of the Houston Rockets earning his first career MVP selection. While the artist known as ‘The Beard‘ grabbed the night’s top honor, a member of the 2017-18 Minnesota Timberwolves was able to leave the star-studded event with some fancy new hardware:

Congrats to @JCrossover on earning Teammate of the Year at the #NBAAwards!

Stay being you, J! pic.twitter.com/Gj7T0yjKj2

— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) June 26, 2018

The well-deserved acknowledgement makes Jamal Crawford the sixth-ever recipient of what’s officially known as the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. Since 2013, the accolade, which is named after the tragic story of once teammates, Jack Twyman & Maurice Stokes, has been given to the individual considered the league’s most “ideal teammate.”

As you can see, Crawford now finds himself amongst a handful of other highly respected players:

Previous Teammate of the Year Award Winners:

Dirk Nowitzki (2017)
Vince Carter (2016)
Tim Duncan (2015)
Shane Battier (2014)
Chauncey Billups (2013)

Watch his reaction press conference here: Link

The 18-year NBA veteran, who isn’t new to league-wide praise (3x Sixth Man of the Year Winner) notched this season’s top-teammate title by beating out runner-up Manu Giniboli by 10 first place votes (80 points total).

Eye ballooned shut or not, if it were up to Austin Rivers, Jamal Crawford would always win Teammate of the Year pic.twitter.com/WKbsccelS6

— Johnny MN (@TheJohnnyMN) June 26, 2018

In regards to Jamal Crawford’s Timberwolves career, all indications are that he’s going to go college superstar on that bit. One and done:

Jamal Crawford to decline Timberwolves contract option, hit FA https://t.co/BFpTvNp318 pic.twitter.com/VyW8e8VeBt

— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) May 2, 2018

While he does have a family to feed, the 38 year-old’s decision to become a free agent doesn’t appear to be financially motivated. Speaking of putting food on the table, look who else showed up for the evening’s festivities:

Sup, Spree?!

We’re going behind-the-scenes with the Wolves legend at tonight’s #NBA Awards! pic.twitter.com/t4iit49ntd

— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) June 25, 2018

Other Notable Awards:

MVP: James Harden

Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons

Most Improved Player: Victor Oladipo

Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert

Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams

Coach of the Year: Dwayne Casey (Raptors. Casey will not return as Toronto’s HC as he was fired on May 11, 2018)

Other Finalists: Brad Stevens (Celtics), Quin Snyder (Jazz)

Executive of the Year: Daryl Morey (Rockets)

Sportsmanship Award: Kemba Walker (Hornets)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Oscar Robertson (Retired)

Community Cares Assist Award: Kevin Durant (Warriors)

Sager Strong Award: Dikembe Mutombo (Retired)

Best Style (fan vote): Russell Westbrook (Thunder)

From here, despite having both the draft and the Award Show in the rear view mirror, anyone suggesting that the NBA news is about to slow down is terribly confused.