Corey Jae Crowder Bio
Corey Jae Crowder is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on July 6, 1990, in Villa Rica, Georgia, and began making a name for himself in college basketball during his time with Marquette, where he was the Big East Player of the Year. Drafted as the 34th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Crowder has experienced a diverse professional career, playing for multiple teams including the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat. He has achieved significant recognition, including being named to various All-American teams during his college years, and has seen success in the NBA Finals.
Early Life and Background
Jae Crowder was born on July 6, 1990, in Villa Rica, Georgia, to Helen Thompson and basketball player Corey Crowder. Crowder attended Villa Rica High School, where he played as starting quarterback for the football team and as starting point guard for the basketball team. Crowder spent the summer holidays in Florida, working out and training with his father, then a professional basketball player with 2 years experience in the NBA who was playing in Europe. Growing up, he was undersized and overweight, weighing nearly 200 pounds in his junior year. Eventually, he called his father to help him lose weight. By the end of his junior year, he had grown to 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and had significantly improved his physical conditioning.
Path to Basketball
Crowder was not heavily recruited out of high school, although he had some offers in football. He committed to South Georgia Technical College, a college in Americus, Georgia. He later transferred to Howard College for his sophomore season. After his junior college eligibility ended, he transferred to Marquette. In his only season with South Georgia Tech, he led the Jets to their first-ever NJCAA national tournament appearance in his freshman season, under head coach Steven Wright, with the team finishing with a 21–7 record. He was named Georgia Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year that season.
Corey Jae Crowder Career
Early Career (2012–2014)
After finishing his college career, Crowder decided to enter the 2012 NBA draft, where he was projected to be a second-round pick. Crowder was taken 34th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers; however, a draft night-trade with the Mavericks sent him to Dallas, along with 24th overall pick Jared Cunningham and 33rd overall pick Bernard James, in exchange for 17th overall pick Tyler Zeller and Kelenna Azubuike. He was officially signed on July 20, 2012, on a non-guaranteed two-year contract, like all second round draft picks. His Marquette teammate Darius Johnson-Odom was also drafted with the 55th overall pick. Due to his strong showing in NBA Summer League and preseason games, he was described as “the steal of the NBA draft”. On November 5, 2013, Crowder scored a then career-high 18 points in a 123–104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. On June 10, 2014, the Mavericks exercised their team option on Crowder’s contract.
Boston Celtics Breakthrough (2014–2017)
On December 18, 2014, Crowder was traded, along with Jameer Nelson, Brandan Wright, a 2015 first-round pick, a 2016 second-round pick and a $12.9 million trade exception, to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Rajon Rondo and Dwight Powell. On January 12, 2015, he scored a then career-high 22 points in a 108–100 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. On July 27, 2015, Crowder re-signed with the Celtics on a reported five-year, $35 million contract. In the 2016-17 season, Crowder continued to develop as an important role player for the Celtics, averaging around 13 points per game. On March 17, 2017, he recorded season highs with 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 98–95 win over Brooklyn. In Game 1 of the Celtics’ Eastern Conference semifinal match-up with the Washington Wizards, Crowder scored a playoff career-high 24 points, helping the Celtics win 123–111.
Milwaukee Bucks Era (2023–2024)
On February 9, 2023, Crowder was acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks from the Suns as part of a four-team trade that also included the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers, where Kevin Durant was acquired by the Suns. On April 4, 2023, Crowder recorded 19 points and nine rebounds during his first start for the Bucks in a 140–128 win over the Washington Wizards. Three days later, he had a season-high 24 points in a 137–114 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. On July 9, 2023, Crowder re-signed with the Bucks. On February 8, 2024, he recorded season highs of 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in a 129–105 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Playing Style and Strengths
Crowder averaged .498 from the field and .345 from the three-point line in his senior season at Marquette. Crowder grew from a chubby kid into a muscular player, training with intense will and commitment to improve his skills. Rick Carlisle compared him to Tayshaun Prince, whom he coached while with the Detroit Pistons, stating: “Jae just has a maturity beyond his years. He’s got a natural motor and a natural, real, pure basketball energy. He’s the kind of guy who would fit in on any team.”
Notable Events and Milestones
Crowder has reached the NBA Finals twice in his career, first with the Miami Heat in 2020 and again with the Phoenix Suns in 2021. During his time with the Phoenix Suns, he made a crucial play in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals in 2021, inbounding the ball from behind the baseline to Deandre Ayton for a buzzer-beating, game-winning alley-oop dunk to lift the Suns to a 104–103 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Corey Jae Crowder Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Corey Jae Crowder has accumulated significant wins across multiple teams and series. He has played for eight different NBA teams and has been part of teams that reached the NBA Finals twice, demonstrating his ability to contribute at the highest level of professional basketball.
NBA Highlights
Crowder’s NBA career includes several standout performances and achievements. He has participated in the NBA playoffs multiple times and has shown the ability to perform in high-pressure situations. With the Miami Heat in 2020, he helped the team reach the NBA Finals, averaging over 11 points per game during the playoffs. In 2021 with the Phoenix Suns, he played a crucial role in the team’s run to the Finals, including his game-winning assist to Deandre Ayton in the Western Conference Finals.
College Highlights
During his college career, Crowder achieved numerous honors. He was named Big East Player of the Year in 2012 and was selected as a Second-team All-American by the Associated Press. He helped Howard College win the NJCAA Division I championship in 2010, where he recorded 27 points and 12 rebounds in the championship game.
Corey Jae Crowder Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Crowder’s father, Corey, played in the NBA for the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs and had a 14-year professional basketball career, mostly playing in Europe. Crowder has seven siblings. His mother Helen Thompson died of cancer in August 2017. She died the same night he was traded to Cleveland from Boston. At his introductory press conference in Cleveland, he said, “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.’ Five minutes later, she passed.”
Personal Life
Crowder majored in communication studies at Marquette’s Diederich College of Communication. He has been open about his close relationship with his family and has spoken about the influence his father had on his basketball development. Despite playing for multiple teams throughout his career, Crowder has maintained connections to his hometown of Villa Rica, Georgia, and frequently participates in community events in the area.
2025 Season Performance
As of the 2024-25 NBA season, Crowder has signed with the Sacramento Kings. He made nine appearances (including two starts) for Sacramento during the 2024–25 NBA season, recording averages of 2.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists. Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Crowder will likely continue to provide veteran leadership and versatility from the forward position. His experience in multiple NBA systems and his ability to shoot from three-point range make him a valuable asset to any team. If he remains with the Kings, fans can expect him to contribute in a rotational role, particularly as a floor-spacing forward who can defend multiple positions on the court.