Former Suns PF Jae Crowder Out For Multiple Months

PHOENIX -- Former Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder - now with the Milwaukee Bucks - will miss two months of action with tears in the left adductor and abdominal region, according to the team. 

Crowder initially joined the NBA as a second-round pick with the Dallas Mavericks in 2012. He had stops with the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat before signing a three-year, $30 million deal with the Suns in November of 2020. 

Crowder played a role later that year in helping Phoenix reach the 2021 NBA Finals before eventually being dealt to the Brooklyn Nets last season as part of the massive haul for Kevin Durant. Brooklyn then re-routed Crowder to Milwaukee. 

Crowder's time with the Suns was left on a bitter note when he demanded a trade following news that Cameron Johnson would take his spot in the starting lineup. Crowder sat out the beginning of the season and didn't play a single minute for Phoenix before being moved. 

“I just flip the chapter,” Crowder said after playing in Phoenix for the first time after being traded. “I just flipped and just turned to another one and enjoying the journey of whatever this one holds.”

On nearly 27 minutes per game, Crowder averaged 8.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists. The Bucks hope to gain him back sooner rather than later to establish more chemistry for a potential NBA Finals run with stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard leading the way. 

Milwaukee won't play Phoenix until Feb. 6.