April 4, 2008

Hornets.com chatted with New York guard and leading scorer Jamal Crawford, a former teammate in Chicago of current Hornets players Tyson Chandler and Jannero Pargo:

Hornets.com: Having played with Tyson Chandler during the early years of his career, what is your impression of the turnaround the 7-foot-1 center has made since coming to the Hornets?
Crawford: He’s playing with a lot more confidence. I think Tyson grew a lot, and I think it was good for him to get out of Chicago. You definitely saw his potential and skill (in Chicago). I’ve known him since he was in high school, and you always knew those things were there.

Hornets.com: When you played with Jannero Pargo in Chicago, he was basically trying to prove that he belonged in the NBA. What is your take on how he’s now cemented a role on a team that may finish with the best record in the extremely competitive Western Conference?
Crawford: He’s always been a hard worker and a guy who could score in a bunch of different ways, and he can get on a roll (offensively). He always was working on his game and working to get better, and he’s a student of the game.

Hornets.com: Who is your pick for the NBA’s MVP award? Is it the guy you’re facing tonight, Chris Paul?
Crawford: [grins] He’s definitely up there, that’s for sure.

Hornets.com: As a Seattle native who has been a big part of the basketball scene there, what are your thoughts on the possibility of the SuperSonics leaving the city?
Crawford: It’s sad. To see a team that has been in one place for 41 years… there are a lot of guys in the league, guys like myself, who grew up watching the Sonics. (Not having a team) will take away from the generation of players coming up. Hopefully if they leave, there will be another team there in the next two or three years.

Hornets.com: What is your opinion of the idea that if the SuperSonics depart for Oklahoma City, they will leave the SuperSonics’ nickname in Seattle so that Seattle can keep it for potential future use?
Crawford: The name of Sonics deserves to be in Seattle. I would hate to see a team leave, so let’s keep our fingers crossed that it doesn’t happen.

Hornets.com: We asked fellow Seattle native Jason Terry this question last season. Why do you think the city of Seattle has produced so many high-caliber NCAA and NBA players over the past few years?
Crawford: Honestly, I think there have always been a lot of good players from up there, but due to grades or (lack of) notoriety, they never got the attention. But now we’ve got 15 or 16 guys from the state of Washington in the league.

Hornets.com: Jason Terry said he thought it was because it rains so much there, that players can’t do anything except be in the gym all the time, working on their games.
Crawford: [grins] Well, you can also shoot outside in the rain too!