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Waikato Pistons import Jason Crowe

Gifford Lee, Waikato Times

Jason Crowe is quite happy being an employee of Waikato basketball.

The 30-year-old American may have tasted the best basketball has to offer but he feels he’s been brought to the Waikato Pistons for a reason and he simply wants to do his job.

“It doesn’t matter where I play. I play basketball. It’s my job and I’ve come to New Zealand to work,” Crowe said.

“It’s the nature of the business to find yourself in different countries but I love to play wherever I am – no matter how big or how small the country is I’m playing in.”

The Los Angeles-born Crowe flew in to Hamilton on Sunday to replace countryman Jason Fraser who broke a finger and was cut from the team. His first appearance for the Pistons will be this Saturday night against the Auckland Stars at the YMCA, where Waikato will be looking for their sixth win on the trot.

The 193cm (6’4″) point guard has most recently played in Poland but before that was the final player cut from the Boston Celtics’ squad ahead of the current NBA season.

He had two short playing stints with the LA Clippers in the NBA and played for a Serbian side owned by ex-LA Lakers star Vlade Divac. He’s also been in Turkey and Iran where he averaged 22.3 points.

Despite being much shorter than Fraser, Crowe was signed by the Pistons to cover a ball-playing, shooting role as they felt they had enough height through Pero Cameron, Mike Homik and Ben Hill.

“We’ve got that experience in the forwards – especially with Pero – but we’re not as experienced in the guard role,” Crowe said. “Luke (Martin) and Kevin (Smith) are both very talented but I guess I’m here to help in that role and make sure this team finishes the season strong.”

Even though he never imagined New Zealand would feature on his basketball passport, Crowe was aware of some of our best players after striking up a friendship with Tall Blacks guard Mark Dickel in the US and Poland.

“I never thought about coming here but it is good timing. The Polish season is over and I was free.

“I’m unsure of what I’ll be doing next but I’m very interested in staying in this part of the world and the chance to play in the Australian league is attractive.”

Crowe said it was hard being in New Zealand without his two-year old daughter Maliya and wife Irene, who have travelled with him to most other countries.

“It’s the first time I haven’t had them with me and it’s the first time I’ve come to a place with beautiful scenery,” he said.

“I mean, Poland and Iran are good places to play basketball but they aren’t exactly the nicest places to visit.”