Jamal Crawford played in the NBA for 20 years and won 3× NBA Sixth Man of the Year. Although he had countless jaw-dropping moments defining his legacy, one game in particular, a 52-point explosion, goes beyond the hardwood still. Not only did Crawford break Michael Jordan’s records that night, but he also unknowingly left an impression on someone from a completely different stage—Hollywood legend Heath Ledger.

Jamal Crawford sat down for a Podcast P with Paul George episode and shared many untold stories of his NBA career. One such story was when he had Oscar winner actor Heath Ledger try hoops. “That’s a fact,” he confirmed as the hosts pressed him for details. As Crawford recalled, he couldn’t help but notice Ledger in the Madison Square Garden crowd. “The Knicks had this little section for celebs. I always looked to see who was there. And yeah, I saw Heath Ledger at that game. I was like, damn, he’s here,” he shared.

But what came next was even more surprising. A year ago, Crawford’s foundation received an email from someone who claimed to have been sitting next to Ledger that night. According to them, Ledger couldn’t stop talking about Crawford’s game. After the buzzer, the Oscar-winning actor went to the Spotted Pig, still buzzing. “He told his friend, ‘Man, this kid was balling.’ And apparently, I inspired him to start playing basketball,” Crawford said. The revelation left the NBA star stunned. “So I’m like, damn, this is crazy,” he added.

Even years later, Crawford continued turning back the clock. In 2019, at 39 years of age, he became the oldest player in NBA history to score 50 points in a game, surpassing Michael Jordan’s record (38 years, 315 days). While soon to turn 40, LeBron James has an opportunity to break this record, injuries have kept the Lakers star sidelined—for now.

However, Jamal Crawford is also the first player ever with 50-point games for 4 different franchises- Chicago Bulls (2004), New York Knicks (2007), Golden State Warriors (2008), and Phoenix Suns (2019). But, despite these accolades, he still feels he missed on a HOF career.

Jamal Crawford opens up about his biggest career regret

Jamal Crawford’s incredible NBA career came with plenty of highlights but also…. a few regrets. A              mong them, missing the chance to reach the Finals with the Los Angeles Clippers stings the most. However, another decision has left a lingering “what if” in his mind—one that Crawford believes may have cost him a Hall of Fame career.

During a candid chat on the Captain Jack Podcast, Crawford reflected on the pivotal decision to switch from point guard to shooting guard. While the move showcased his versatility, he believes it steered him away from reaching his full potential.

“My biggest regret is moving from the point guard position because for me like, I was ahead of my time being a 6’5 point guard,” Crawford said. “Once they saw I could score and I’m so like, just cool, I’m like all right I’ll go to two. If I would have stayed at the point, I could have had like a legendary Hall of Fame career.”

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Crawford has expressed this sentiment. Earlier this year, he posted a throwback photo of himself in his Chicago Bulls jersey. Behind him was a poster with the words, “I’m a Point Guard who can score.” In the caption, Crawford wrote, “My biggest regret on the court was changing positions. If only there was positionless basketball then 😌🤷🏾‍♂.”

Jamal’s reflections are a reminder that even the most poignant of careers can have shadows of “what could have been”. But while Crawford may have his share of regrets, his legacy as one of the most electrifying scorers in the history of NBA remains unshakeable still.