Knicks' Crawford keeps eye on hometown

NEW YORK — Derek Jeter once told him not to read the newspapers, but Jamal Crawford can't escape checking up on one topic — the Sonics' arena situation.

It's the first question the New York Knicks guard asks when he spots a familiar face from his hometown. And it's the only drama engulfing Crawford, even as fans picket his team outside Madison Square Garden — carrying oversize pink slips for coach Isiah Thomas — or hiss at poor play and chant "Fire Isiah!" on losing nights.

Of which there are plenty.

Instead Crawford, an eight-year pro and former Rainier Beach High standout, is focusing on something else.

One of 17 players in the NBA with connections to Washington state, Crawford searches the Internet to see whether Sonics owner Clay Bennett has received funding for a world-class facility (he hasn't) or whether the state Legislature has made any public moves to retain the Sonics and Storm in Seattle (it hasn't).

"I love playing in New York, honestly," Crawford said before scoring 29 points in a 117-110 loss to Seattle on Dec. 12. "But Seattle is home for me, always. I watch their games all the time. When I was younger, I'd go to their playoff games. It's always home for me."

Anything has to be better than the Knicks' current situation.

Crawford dips his head and lowers his voice at a barrage of questions about Madison Square Garden's recent troubles. A sexual harassment suit cost the New York ownership about $11.5 million, according to reports, and relentless fans have piled on the pressure to succeed in one of the nation's largest markets.

Crawford chooses to focus on the court. He's averaging a career-high 18.5 points with 4.6 assists.

New York, however, is 3-7 this month and 15 games behind Boston for first in the Eastern Conference. Yet, as Crawford is quick to point out, eight teams have 15 losses or more — such as eighth-seeded New Jersey (12-15).

"It's a slower start than we thought, but the East is wide open," he said. "Things change, we've just got to put some wins together."

Off the court, Crawford is connecting with the city that traded for him in 2004. He was one of PS 58's celebrity principals last year and was so moved by the lack of facilities and equipment for learning at the Bronx school that he made a $75,000 donation for a library through his foundation.

The unveiling was in October; Crawford was surprised that the building was dedicated the Jamal Crawford Library.

"It was cool," Crawford said.

Yeah, but has he ever been to a library before?

"Naw, it's not a foreign spot," he said with a bashful laugh. "I'm comfortable in there. My senior year in high school I used to go to the library all the time to read things on the Internet."

And now he's clicking on Sonics arena news.

"I hope they can stay," Crawford said. "I couldn't imagine Seattle without a basketball team, especially growing up there and stuff. All those years of Lenny Wilkens and Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp and Nate McMillan. I couldn't imagine it."

Crawford still returns home for the offseason, playing pickup games at a gym on Mercer Island with other local products Luke Ridnour (Sonics), Spencer Hawes (Sacramento) and Brandon Roy (Portland).

"There's a whole crew of us that get together," Ridnour said. "No matter what, we're always from the state of Washington, and it's where our heart is always at. So, as part of just having a team here, it would be something that would be strange to go without. For us, that's [playing basketball] what we grew up wanting to do and Seattle is the team that was always here."

Until that changes, Crawford will continue to check in.

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com