Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) drives past Brooklyn Nets forward Quincy Acy (13) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 17, 2017, in New York. The Celtics won 98-95. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics megatrade centered around elite point guards Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas, but versatile forward Jae Crowder was included in the package as well.
Speaking to the media during the Cavs’ introductory press conference, the 27-year-old wing player shared how he informed his sick mother, Helen Thompson, that he was going to Cleveland, just minutes before she lost her life.
“There was a lot going on that day, obviously,” Crowder said, in a video uploaded by Def Pen Hoops on Twitter. “The good thing about the whole ordeal was I was able to whisper it to my mom before she passed. I was with her. I just told her, ‘We’re going to Cleveland.’ And like five minutes later she passed.”
Jae Crowder talks about telling his mom about his trade to the #Cavs five minutes before she passed away… pic.twitter.com/UVfZ7dISaz
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) September 7, 2017
Thompson died of cancer on her hospital bed last Aug. 22, the same night the Celtics shipped Thomas, Crowder, Ante Zizic and a 2018 first round pick to the Cavaliers, according to Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon.
Although that day would forever be tragic in Crowder’s eyes, the Marquette-product remains grateful to have an opportunity to play for the top team in the Eastern Conference.
“Yeah, that day was tough,” he added. “But it was a good day for my basketball career to move on to an organization like this, like the Cleveland Cavaliers, and be able to put myself in position to play for it all. I couldn’t ask for nothing else.”
Crowder enjoyed his best statistical season in the league last year, averaging 13.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals on 46.3 percent shooting from the field and a career-high 39.8 percent shooting from behind the arc. Khristian Ibarrola /ra