Crutcher hopes for chance in NBA after hot streak in G League

Eleven months after the end of his college career, the three-time Dayton MVP Crutcher is trying to show he’s worthy of a shot at the next level.

“That’s been my goal from day one,” Crutcher said Monday. “I’ve always felt like I could play in the NBA.”

Crutcher finished his Dayton career last March as the 16th-ranked scorer in school history (1,593 points). After going undrafted, he played with the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Summer League. He then signed with the Charlotte Hornets in October before being cut and added to the roster of their G League affiliate in Greensboro, N.C.

Through 23 games, Crutcher ranks second on the team in scoring (16.7 points per game) and assists (4.7). He leads the team in 3-point shooting percentage (43.4, 72 of 166).

Crutcher has believed he could play in the NBA since he traveled back home to Memphis during his college career and competed against NBA star Ja Morant and others. He told himself, “I can play with these guys.”

Now he just needs the opportunity.

“It’s just really just basketball at the end of the day,” Crutcher said, “and I feel like I’m a great basketball player. So that’s definitely a main goal.”

Crutcher was not putting up the same numbers at the beginning of the season. He started the first game Nov. 5 and had six points in 35 minutes. He averaged 9.6 points in 14 Showcase Cup games in November and December. The G League regular season started in January, and he averaged 15.9 points in nine games. In February, he has averaged 18.1 points in seven games.

“Things are going really well right now,” Crutcher said. “I just feel so much comfortable out on the court. I feel really good on the court. I’ve got a lot of confidence right now.”

Crutcher didn’t have trouble adapting to the next level. He just had to get used to playing with bigger and faster players. His experience at Dayton prepared him well. The style Dayton played under Anthony Grant is similar to what he sees in the G League, and the coaches got them ready for the pro game on and off the court.

“They treated us like professionals,” Crutcher said. “They didn’t ever treat us like little kids. They prepared us for sure.”

Crutcher is one of five former Flyers in the G League right now. Ibi Watson and Jordan Sibert play for the College Park Skyhawks. Trey Landers plays for the Cleveland Charge. Jordy Tshimanga plays for the Iowa Wolves.

Crutcher played against Watson, his teammate the last two seasons, and Sibert in January.

“I think I came down and scored on Ibi,” Crutcher said, “and then he came down and scored on me. It was fun playing against those guys.”

The former Flyers always talk about the current Flyers when they cross paths, and Crutcher speaks with former teammate Obi Toppin, now in his second season with the New York Knicks, all the time as well about their old team.

“I like how they’ve been playing lately,” Crutcher said. “We’ll see what they do later on in the season when they go to the tournament. A lot of the young guys are starting to learn. They’re starting to get it. They look totally different from the beginning of the season to now. They’ve got a lot of confidence in themselves.”